Singapore expects 10% increase in Gulf visitors

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) expects a 10 per cent increase in visitors from the Gulf during the upcoming summer holiday months compared to the 2011 summer period, according to a senior Singapore tourism official. "Thanks to recent investment in exciting new tourism infrastructure, the ‘new' Singapore offers a truly differentiated holiday experience to Gulf visitors," Mohammad Hafez Marican, STB's Area Director for the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement. Outlook He expects at least a 10 per cent increase in the number of visitors from the Gulf region to Singapore this summer season.Meanwhile, the STB data reveal that 14,280 tourists from the UAE visited Singapore in the first quarter of 2012. This marked an increase of more than 18 per cent over the corresponding period a year earlier. During this time, Singapore also saw a 36.3 per cent increase in visitors from Saudi Arabia, data show. Meanwhile, the Gulf region overall saw a general increase in visitors over the same period, the tourism board said in the statement. It added that the growth in regional visitors to Singapore comes on the back of a number of new attractions being revealed as the existing ones are renewed. New flights Airlines have also begun to meet this increased demand through the introduction of new flights or services, according to STB. Emirates offers 29 flights a week from Dubai to Singapore, and Qatar Airways offers 14 flights a week from Doha.