Northstar

The Indispensable Travel Industry Read Feature Highlight 57 years in travel: pioneer and many fi rsts Vol. 3 Issue 05 | 14 February 2012 | www.travelweeklyweb.com | Published by Travel & Meetings Group, Ten Alps Communications Asia Pte Ltd Singapore records new high in tourist arrivals and tourism expenditure News Singapore Airlines Group : Net profi ts decline News Page 3 Scenic Travel appointed as regional GSA for Canada's Rocky Mountaineer International Visitor Arrivals, Top 15 Markets, January to December 2011 Singapore has achieved new highs in both tourist arrivals and tourism receipts. It welcomed 13.2 million visitors (+13 per cent) up from the 11.6 million in 2010, and its tourism receipts increased billion. to $22.2 billion (+17 percent), from $18.9 According to preliminary figures released by Singapore Tourism Board recently, the strong results exceed its forecast of 12 to 13 million in arrivals, and spending expectations of $22 to $24 billion. (After the lull period of tourism in 2009, 2010 results saw spectacular growths of 20 per cent in arrivals and 49 per cent in tourism receipts). Accounting for 25 per cent of the expenditure, Sightseeing & Entertainment (which included gambling) recorded the highest growth of 37 per cent. Accommodation accounted for 19 per cent of expenditure, and the biggest expenditure at 26 per cent was on TR components medical, education, business, transit visitors, airfares, port taxes and local transportation. Its growth, however, registered only a fi ve percent increase. International Visitor Arrivals Arrivals from Asia topped 76 per cent with the top five markets being Indonesia (2,592,000), P R China (1,577,000), Malaysia (1,141,000), Australia (956,000) and India (869,000). Europe saw a two per cent growth despite a four per cent drop in visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom. The influx of tourists, with Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, acting as the "catalyst" resulted in an 86 per cent occupancy with an average room rate (ARR) of $245, a 13 per cent increase over 2010. Hotels – which totalled 49,700 rooms (with the new addition of 2.400) – contributed an estimated $2.6 billion, an increase of 27.8 per cent. Performing exceptionally well were the Upscale tier* which not only topped the growth at 14 per cent, but was also top performer for the growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR) Robust performance in ARR and AOR resulted in a 15 per cent growth in revenue per available Room (RevPAR), which stood at S$212 in 2011. * Upscale are generally in prime locations including boutique hotels Page 8 Source: Singapore Tourism Board

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