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No perceivable impact of Zika on Singapore's tourism so far: Official

Xinhua, September 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

There has been no perceivable impact of Zika on Singapore's tourism so far, with only a handful of cancellations, said Oliver Chong, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Capability, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in a statement to Xinhua on Monday.

Chong said Singapore remains a safe travel destination, as the country has a robust system in place to manage Zika in the community, with the mainstay being vector control.

"In keeping with an open, transparent and multi-pronged approach throughout Singapore, STB will continue to closely monitor developments through Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency," added Chong.

Chong revealed that STB is working closely with both Singapore and in-market tourism and travel partners to ensure that there will be necessary mitigating measures and communications plans in place to address concerns by visitors.

Chong exemplified that STB's frontline operations, such as Call Center and Singapore Visitor Center, have been monitoring daily visitor feedback and queries on the Zika outbreak.

As for question on whether Chinese tourists have been infected with Zika, Chong responded that Chinese nationals who were affected by Zika are working in Singapore, as far as he knows.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore on Monday said it has been informed by Singapore's Ministry of Health that a total of 30 Chinese nationals in Singapore have been tested positive for Zika virus as of noon on Monday.

About 16 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection were confirmed in the country as of Monday, according to a joint statement released by Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency. Monday's update brings the total number of Zika infections here to 258. Endit