DRMumbai: The year 2017 was a record year for Singapore as visitor arrivals from India had crossed the one-million mark for the third time in a row, showcasing the highest growth rate at 16 per cent in comparison to all other markets.
Singapore has received over 6 lakh visitors from India between January and May 2018, reporting a 17 per cent year-on-year increase from 2017. India also continues to be the top source market for visitor arrivals in the cruise segment for Singapore.
Last year, 1,27,000 cruise passengers from India sailed out of Singapore’s shores, showing a year-on-year increase of 25 per cent from 2016. In 2017, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) undertook several initiatives to deepen its position in India.
These included its association with the Bollywood movie ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’, participation in cruise forums and travel trade events such as SATTE 2017, partnerships with airlines, launch of the Vegetarian Food Guide and unveiling of a new brand identity, ‘Singapore: Passion Made Possible’, among others.
The impressive visitor arrival figures from India were recorded between January and May 2018, reporting a 17 per cent year-on-year increase from 2017
Early this year, STB organised roadshows in Jaipur and Mumbai, participated in SATTE 2018 and conducted a two-day Consumer Travel Fair in Bengaluru to engage with Indian travellers. This year, the STB has lined up a series of collaborative initiatives to entice and welcome more Indian travellers to Singapore in 2018.
They embarked on an eight-city roadshow, from July 16 to 26, with close to 40 stakeholders to connect and grow their partnership with in-market travel agents. The eight cities were Trichy, Ludhiana, Kochi, Kolkata, Surat, Vizag, Coimbatore and Lucknow.
This is part of STB’s ongoing efforts to take the ‘Passion Made Possible’ brand message forward and showcase Singapore’s diverse offerings to the target audience – families with kids, cruise travellers, meetings and incentive groups etc.
Themed ‘With Passion, Forging New Possibilities’, the roadshows enable STB to present exciting, new offerings and familiar favourites to in-market travel agencies.
Through the roadshows, STB plans to deepen its existing partnerships and foster new ones with the travel trade partners. Some of the new enhanced leisure offerings are Maritime Experiential Museum, A J Hackett Sentosa, Genting Dream, Singapore Sidecars tours and Rainforest Lumina at the Singapore Zoo, among others, and upcoming events such as the Singapore Night Festival in August and Grand Prix Season in September.
The roadshows include key stakeholders from Singapore representing hotels, airlines, integrated resorts, attractions, Destination Management Companies (DMC) and cruise operators. The delegation is being led by STB’s G B Srithar, Regional Director (South Asia, Middle East, Africa), Adrian Kong, Area Director (South Asia – Mumbai), and Yuemin Li Misra, Area Director (North and East India).
About STB’s efforts to showcase Singapore as a destination of choice among Indian travellers, G B Srithar said, “India has been a very important source market for Singapore and STB has been steadfastly engaging travellers through partnerships and various marketing initiatives.”
“Last year, India moved up a spot to become the third largest source market for Singapore in terms of visitor arrivals. We are looking forward to working closely with both Indian and Singaporean travel trade partners to continue the momentum and entice more Indian travellers to come, enjoy Singapore’s offerings.”
