Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com | 17 DESTINATION: SINGAPORE Global travel distributor GTA has signed a year-long S$2 million(US$1.4 million) memorandum of understanding with SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, that will see the two companies collaborate exclusively on marketing initiatives to bring more traffic to Singapore. GTA is already one of the largest generators of travel into Singapore. Last year it helped bring nearly a million tourists to Singapore. Daryl Lee, GTA's regional vice president of sales and marketing for Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, says, "With increasing competition from neighbouring destinations, visitors to Singapore fell 3.1% to 15.1 million in 2014, the first drop since 2009.We want to improve GTA IN MARKETING ALLIANCE WITH SILKAIR, SINGAPORE HOTELS MORE INITIATIVES TO BRING TOURISTS TO SINGAPORE awareness among travel agents of all that Singapore has to offer travellers and particularly address misconceptions that it is expensive. "Connecting 48 locations with value for money travel to Singapore, our partnership with SilkAir is certain to bring dividends to the country's tourism industry." The agreement comes as GTA launched the first partnership in a new strategic programme last week to increase awareness of the appeals of Singapore, highlighting value for money travel and drive visits to the destination from key markets in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions. A total of 22 three- to five-star hotels from five international and home grown hotel brands – Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Far East Hospitality, Fragrance Hotel Management Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa and The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore – will benefit from enhanced marketing to travel agents in Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and the UAE as well as secondary cities in China, India and Indonesia with GTA's reach. TEN WAYS TO ENJOY SINGAPORE LIKE A LOCAL MacRitchie Reservoir and trek around it. 6. Go on the Balestier Heritage Trail. 7. Have drinks at Ku De Ta, Marina Bay Sands Skypark and enjoy the Singapore Skyline. 8. Have a cuppa at the many avant- garde cafes at Tiong Bahru. 9. Go wakeboarding at Marina Barrage or Bedok Reservoir. 10.Party at Zoukout at Siloso Beach, Sentosa. 1. Eat chicken rice at a hawker centre and drink Milo dinosaur. 2. BBQ at the beach at East Coast and drink beer till 10.30pm. Cycle from East Coast Parkway to Marina Barrage. 3. Go to Universal Studios and have a staycation at Sentosa hotels. 4. Have a walk at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in the morning and watch the wildlife. 5. Take the Tree Top walk at The famed Puss in Boots leads the charge at Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa's popular theme park attraction. The new "Puss in Boots' Giant Journey" two-minute ride promises fun seekers thrills and spills. Guests will join in the legendary exploits of Puss In Boots as they take off on an anti- gravity swashbuckling flight. John Hallenbeck, senior vice president of Attractions at RWS, said, "The launch of the much-anticipated Puss In Boots' Giant Journey ride gives guests yet another reason to celebrate Universal Studios Singapore's fifth birthday with us. "The overwhelming response to The Dance for the Magic Beans live street show is telling of the popularity that Puss In Boots enjoys in this region." The second quarter will also see the much awaited return of Battlestar Galactica dueling roller coasters. Added to this is a host of exciting activities lined up for the year. By Natalie Chen PUSS IN BOOTS DRAWS IN THE CROWDS AT RWS Universal Studious Singapore saw more than six million visitors in 2014 and this year is promising as the local travel industry embarks on initiatives to put the republic back on tourists' maps again. Resorts World Sentosa is also launching a new hotel in the Jurong Lake District. Genting Hotel Jurong is scheduled to open in May. The hotel forms part of the business strategy to drive greater visitation to RWS. Genting, parent company of Resorts World, is also embarking on a new integrated resort project in Jeju, Korea. Resorts World Jeju held its ground breaking on February 12. RWJ will boast a world-class theme park, water-park, MICE facilities, sizeable retail space, gaming and entertainment facilities, and luxury hotels. Genting aims for RWJ to be a magnet for the regional tourist market. Within a flying radius of two hours there is a population of 750 million. A host of ways to enjoy Singapore. Ritz-Carlton Millennia Singapore.

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