STB projects 10% increase in visitor growth this year

STB projects 10% increase in visitor growth this year

By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 23 March 2012 1012 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) expects more visitor arrivals for Singapore for 2012.

It has projected an increase of up to 10 per cent, from 2011 - at between 13.5 and 14.5 million arrivals.

But it'll be slower than the 13.8 per cent achieved in 2011.

Second Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran gave this assessment at a tourism industry conference on Friday.

He said the STB has also projected tourism receipts of between S$23 billion and S$24 billion in 2012, an increase of up to 8 per cent from 2011.

He said this is a conservative forecast, based on the global economic uncertainties and moderate growth forecast.

He added that Singapore needs to continually innovate to stay ahead of the curve.

As such, the government will be pumping in a second tranche of tourism development funding worth S$905 million.

Two-thirds of the amount will be used for new tourism ventures and projects over five years.

- CNA/ck

sources: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1190771/1/.html

More childcare centres to be built

More childcare centres to be built

By Karen Ng | Posted: 10 March 2012 1957 hrs

SINGAPORE: About 200 more childcare centres will be built by 2018 to cater to tremendous increase in demand for childcare services.

This was announced on Saturday by Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Halimah Yacob.

Madam Halimah said: "Childcare, as you know, is a very important facet of work-life balance.

"Women cannot go back to work if there is no proper care-giving responsibilities for their children.

"The promise is to build 200 childcare centres by 2013. But already, I think we have reached that target so we will build another 200 centres.

"The whole idea is really to make sure that we have enough places for women to put their children in."

Madam Halimah said the new childcare centres will be built in areas that have higher demand, such as Woodlands and Bukit Panjang.

As demand is very location-based, she is open to private operators coming into the sector.

But operators must meet the key requirements of accessibility, affordability and quality.

The ministry is also exploring childcare centres at workplaces.

But high rentals is a deterring factor.

Currently, there are more than 900 childcare centres in Singapore, and a typical childcare centre can accommodate 70 to 100 children.

- CNA/wk

Sources: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1188172/1/.html

MICE sector key in next stage of tourism growth

MICE sector key in next stage of tourism growth

By Yvonne Chan | Posted: 13 March 2012 1557 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Singapore government is pumping more cash into the tourism industry to further develop the city state as a lifestyle and business events hub.

Industry players welcome the cash injection, but they said regional competition and manpower shortages are not easy challenges to overcome.

The Singapore government is pouring another S$900 million for the next stage of tourism growth.

And at least a third of this will be set aside to develop the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector.

It's a sector that is already growing.

Jenny Zhang, marketing director, International Quality & Productivity Centre, said: "We focus more on b2b conferences. This actually draws a lot of business expertise as well as SEA level executives to Singapore. We see an increase in trend over the past few years."

Of the 13 million visitors who came to Singapore in 2011, STB estimates that a third were here for business events. And with the West looking towards the East for growth, industry players here said the regional competition in the MICE industry is certainly heating up.

Chandran Nair, general manager, Singex, said: "The key competitors in this part would be Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and even Indonesia. The trade associations, the government, and private sector (are) all working together to bring MICE into their country because they all see the benefit of MICE.

"MICE has a strong multiplier effect for the economy. You see major trade shows coming into the countries, and you see hotels, stand contractors, freight forwarders and shops benefit."

Another challenge is the availability of manpower. And this is where the industry would like to see more support.

Rosalind Ng, president, SACEOS Singapore, said: "The challenge now is really the resource issue. We need to actually groom and develop better resource, we are lacking in that... Productivity and training is really very important for us to get onto the next stage of growing the MICE sector."

The Singapore government already pumped in S$2 billion in 2005 to stimulate the tourism industry. With an additional war chest of S$900 million, the government clearly means business.

- CNA/cc

sources: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1188706/1/.html