The early success by Las Vegas gaming companies in Macau and the anticipation of what lies ahead there and in Southeast Asia has made Singapore the hottest new tourism prospect in Asia.
With millions of potential customers in China alone expected to travel as current restrictions continue to ease and Singapore positioned as one of the dominant crossroads of the region, it’s clear why more than a dozen companies are vying to build two integrated resorts in a place many expected would never have casinos.
It also makes it even more intriguing that Las Vegas Sands Inc. executive William Weidner chose to blast the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority during an appearance at the Asian Casino Expo here last week.
Several gaming and government experts have done some handicapping of the players in the competition for Singapore.
The Singaporeans want iconic resorts that will bolster the tourism industry without stealing market share from existing hotels. They want development from companies that aren’t strictly casino operators, developers that are as likely to build great restaurants and retail as they are developing a casino floor.
In a recent visit to Las Vegas, Frank Lavin, the United States‘ ambassador to Singapore since 2001, paid visits to some of the locally based companies that are in the running for the Singapore project.
In interviews with Las Vegas media, Lavin, on a tour of the United States sponsored by the U.S. Association of Southeast Asia Nations Business Council, said Singapore wants something more than a nice hotel.
“They’re looking for something extra,” Lavin said of Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Remaking Singapore Committee.
More: inbusinesslasvegas.com
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TEHRAN, May 8 (MNA) – Iran and Singapore here on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on tourism, said a report released by the Iranian Students News Agency.
The said MOU was inked during a visit paid between Iran’s Minister of Commerce Mohammad Shariatmadari and Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lim-Hung Kiang heading a delegation.
“Tourism is among good areas of cooperation”, Shariatmadari said, expressing hope that the potentiality is used more seriously in the future.
Moving the economic cooperation from the simple trading to the joint ventures is among the issues stressed by the countries, he said, adding,
Singapore Gambles on Casinos to Boost Tourism
The casinos are expected to be operational by 2009. Lee was optimistic the Las Vegas-style resorts would radically alter the skyline and lifestyle of a city-state better known for its strict regulations and disciplined population.
"We want Singapore to have the X-factor — that buzz that you get in London, Paris or New York," Lee said, appealing for support for his first major project since becoming prime minister last August.
He said that while other major capitals had been reinventing themselves, Singapore was losing its share of the global tourism market and in danger
With Indians emerging as the top spenders among tourists visiting Singapore, the Southeast Asian country is now wooing the nouveau riche from smaller towns and cities.
"From Bangalore to Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and other emerging metros, we are targeting them all through our new marketing strategy," says Lim Neo Chian, Singapore Tourism Board's chairman.
"India is a very important market for us. Besides our sixth largest visitor generating market, Indians have emerged as the top spenders in Singapore," he says.
Indians on an average stay for six days and their spending is nearly 300 dollars. Japanese spend higher than them, but their
Sri Lankan Airlines recently launched its dedicated vacations brand titled Sri Lankan Holidays in Mumbai with a multi-pronged objective of driving tourism to Sri Lanka as well as enhance yields on flights to key Far East destinations. Sri Lankan Airlines currently operates the maximum number of flights for an international airline, out of India.
Although the airline has been formulating promotional packages for Sri Lanka and Malaysia in the past, it is now looking to organise this format of promotion with a purpose driven brand. Says Lal Talgaswatte, regional manager - western and central India, Sri Lankan Airlines, "Sri Lankan Holidays
Emirates Holidays, the tour operating arm of Emirates Airline and one of the largest wholesale tour operators in the Middle East, declared a revenue of Dhs 355 million (US$97 million) for the financial year ended 31st March 2004 - an increase of 23 per cent over the previous year.
Around 100,000 tourists travelled with Emirates Holidays over the past twelve months, with the top destinations proving to be the U.A.E, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Mauritius, the Maldives, Singapore, Lebanon and India. The six destinations growing fastest in popularity were Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
The past