Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Thursday, 21 November 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Marketing a known product entity to attract more customers is never an easy task, and for the Singapore Tourism Board, the key challenge in promoting the destination has been to showcase its diversity from a different angle – cutting out the images that are conjured up when Singapore comes to mind and replacing them with new experiences.
Singapore Tourism Board Area Director for South Asia G.B. Srithar, in Sri Lanka for a destination update, noted that Singapore is constantly on the search for “quick, easy, personalisable and quality tourism.”
“We are constantly reinventing ourselves and the product to suit the modern traveller, who is spoilt for choice,” Srithar said. “The buzzword for tourism in Singapore is ‘personalisable and quality’ tourism.”
Singapore, a country small in size, the attractions and experiences are concentrated, and easily accessible to discerning travellers and tourists. Lifestyle, entertainment, wellness, cruises, shopping, culture, food and more are all within reach.
What Singapore offers is many holidays within a holiday. “In Sentosa alone there are three pockets of experience. This gives tourists a reason to come again and again.”
On average, 80,000 Sri Lankans travel to Singapore each year, a number which is expected to grow over the next few years. From a 4.7 average length of stay in 2007, Lankans now stay for 5.2 days on average in Singapore. With 36 flights between Colombo and Singapore weekly, this is likely to grow in the future.
“We offer refreshing and dynamic experiences to choose from,” Srithar said. “We have the world’s best rainforest zoo and Sri Lankans and Indians have been recorded as key contributors to the increasing demand of this product.” It also offers Asia’s first and only river themed wildlife park, ‘River Safari.’
Singapore is affordable, not expensive
“We keep refreshing the landscape of tourism. This gives visitors reasons to revisit.”
Contrary to popular belief, Singapore is not an expensive destination, he said. The ‘expensive’ tag comes from the unintentional focus on new attractions. However, the country offers different experiences for different wallets and remains affordable, depending on the experience. A visitor can enjoy a S$ 2.50 nasi lamak in the heart of Raffle City or opt for a higher priced version of the same popular Singaporean dish. Even attractions such as Gardens by the Bay offer free experiences in addition to those with a price attached.
“We cater to different tastes,” he acknowledged, adding that a large number of backpackers still arrive in Singapore from Australia and Europe while a similar percentage of the world’s rich and famous also come to Singapore to play. “There is also ease in getting around, with taxis and trains at your disposal.”
Key attractions in Singapore
Highlighting some of the key attractions in Singapore, Srithar listed Universal Studios, a first for South East Asia, featuring the world’s only Transformers Slide; Asia’s leading business, leisure and entertainment destination – Marina Bay Sands with its multiple attractions; Asia’s favourite playground – Sentosa and F1 Night Races among others.
“Singapore is a land of food with our most famous being chicken rice, laksa and chilli crab. We are also known for our culture, the various activities one can engage in such as cruising and ultimate drives, night life, key events such as the F1 in September and Christmas in the Tropics in December.”
Srithar added: “All these experiences and more await those who come to Singapore, affordably priced to suit the pockets of all visitors. What we offer are world class experiences of quality.”
Singapore Airlines: 43-year affair with Sri Lanka
Counting 43 years of operation in Sri Lanka, Singapore Airlines delivers the services expected of a premium airline and in September underwent a global rebranding experience, which portrays customers as king with the tagline ‘The lengths we go to. It is also known as the world’s most awarded airline.
Singapore Airlines (Sri Lanka) General Manager Aldrin Arumugam noted that Singapore is a key destination for the Sri Lankan traveller and Singapore Airlines (SIA) remains a key airline for the Sri Lankan market.
“SIA has been in Sri Lanka for over 43 years and we continue to provide our customers here with the highest level of service and care that has come to be a trademark of our airline. For your next travel plans, let SIA pamper you with the service that even other airlines talk about.”
Arumugam added that baggage allowance has been increased by 10 kilograms, effective 15 November, across business, first and economy classes.
Singapore Airlines’ value addition for travellers
As a value added service, the airline together with Changi Airport offer the Changi Dollar Voucher for travellers to Singapore. This is a S$ 20 voucher that can be collected and redeemed at the Changi Airport while also acting as a onetime access pass to the lounge.
Other value added services by the airline include a six hour transit hotel facility on twin share basis for S$ 10, the Singapore Stopover Holiday (SSH) – a S$ 300 worth tour around the city for S$ 59, boarding pass privileges, site-seeing (heritage or city lights) and access to the SIA hop-on bus taking passengers around the city.
“Sri Lankans do not have to get visas to travel to Singapore. It is a constantly changing destination that offers a wide array of products,” Arumugam said. “We look forward to having you onboard.”
