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Singapore sets up 10 mln fund to woo tourists

Xinhua, August 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Tuesday that it is launching a new 10 million-Singapore dollar fund to enhance overall visitor experience and satisfaction in Singapore.

In conjunction with the launch of the new fund, the board is also calling for proposals for tour development and technology initiatives.

"Increasingly, travellers are seeking varied and engaging experiences that allow them to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of our stories and heritage. They're not just going for run-of-the-mill city tours but unique ones like back-of-house visits, precinct or interest-based tours," said Choo Huei Miin, director of Visitor Experience and Capability Development, STB.

She said that through the new fund, STB aim to "spur tourism businesses to create and deliver more and better experiential offerings that add to Singapore's overall destination attractiveness."

The number of tourists in Singapore declined by 3.1 percent to 15.1 million last year, mainly due to the drop in the number of Chinese tourists, which saw a sharp decline of 24 percent from a year earlier.

Explaining the reasons, STB said it was likely due to factors such as the implementation of China's Tourism Law, regional political uncertainty as well as the aviation incidents in the region.

Therefore, STB has been working on initiatives to woo visitors back.

In June last year, STB has started a 1-million Singapore dollar campaign to attract Chinese tourists, with road shows held in major Chinese cities to sell Singapore and its attractions.

Under the new fund, STB also encourages registered businesses to submit their proposals for tour development and technology initiatives, which could help enhance visitors' experiences.

"We believe that the introduction of this new scheme by STB will be helpful to our many partners on the island, as they would have the opportunity to tap on this funding to enhance their offerings and ultimately, create a more dynamic and memorable experience for all our visitors," said Susan Ang, divisional director of the Island Investment and Branding, Sentosa Development Corporation. Endi