Singapore Tourism
Singapore keeps changing. Every two to three years, it comes out with new avenues for fun tourism. Singapore Tourism Board is expecting 17 million tourists by 2015, said Kiran Bhandari, the board Area Director of Southern India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. 2007 was a record year for Singapore Tourism crossing the milestone of over 10 million visitors, Mr. Bhandari told reporters in Coimbatore Thursday. India had a major role to play, since 7,49,000 Indians visited Singapore last year – a growth of 14 per cent over 2006.Among secondary cities, Coimbatore registered a growth of 29 per cent over 2006.Direct air connectivity with 12 cities, including Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Bangalore in Karnataka and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, has resulted in the surge in number of persons visiting the place from India.In the next three years, Singapore is planning to introduce new attractions.
Singapore Flyer, world’s largest observation wheel, launched in March this year offers a breathtaking view of Singapore. Each capsule in the wheel can accommodate up to 28 people.On a clear day, people can see Malaysia and Indonesia as well.A number of cruises have started operating in Singapore. The Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort is another attraction. It would be a 180 m sky garden in a pillar-less convention hall with 2,500 rooms and a casino. The Singapore Government has granted licence for two casinos. They will start functioning in 2009. The Formula 1 SingTel Singpore Grand Prix will be held in September this year.
Unlike other prix, it will be on roads and not on exclusive circuits. Resorts World at Sentosa in the tropical island slated to be one of the family destinations will be ready by 2010. It will have a Universal Studios Theme Park, worlds’ largest oceanrium and the region’s only fully integrated destination spa. The board is planning to launch a joint tourism package initiative in association with Malaysia in August or September where tourists will get to spend two days in Singapore and two days in Malaysia.
