Singapore tourist numbers up 18 per cent

Singapore arrival numbers soared by 18% in August, reaching 996,000, drawn by the two integrated resorts and inaugural Youth Olympic Games According to the Straits Times, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Tuesday that it was a record high for the month of August and also the ninth straight month of record monthly visitor arrivals.

All of Singapore's top 15 visitor-generating markets, except Britain, saw more tourists coming this way. The number of tourists from Britain visiting Singapore fell 7 per cent compared to the same month last year. The number of visitors from China grew by 51 per cent to 131,000, followed by Thai and Indonesian visitors, with an increase of 48 per cent and 34 per cent respectively.

The Straits Times reports that hotels and other businesses in the hospitality business did well too. Hotels were, on average, 85 per cent occupied last month, up 7.6 percentage points from the same period last year. The average room rate jumped 24.7 per cent to hit $218. For most of last year, room rates stayed below $200. Overall, hotel room revenue added up to an estimated $172 million, 37.1 per cent higher than in August last year.

Sourced=ETN