Tourism numbers still slow

• Visitor arrivals still declining
• 0.5% decline compared to Oct ‘08
• Some markets show visitor growth

Singapore - Visitor arrivals to Singapore declined by 0.5% year-on-year in October to reach 845,000 visitors, though some of the top visitor markets showed substantial growth.

Visitor days were estimated at 3.3 million days, a year-on-year decline of 4.6% in comparison with October 2008.

Indonesia, China, Australia, Malaysia and India were Singapore's top five visitor-generating markets. Indonesia (137,000), P R China (83,000) Australia (82,000), Malaysia (69,000), and India (67,000) were Singapore's top five visitor-generating markets in October and these markets accounted for 52% of total visitor arrivals for the month.

In October, nine out of Singapore's top 15 visitor arrival markets posted growth over October 2008. P R China recorded its first growth (+8.4%) since May 2008, spurred by an unprecedented eight-day Golden Week holiday.

Hong Kong registered the largest percentage growth (27.4%) amongst the top 15 markets due to attractive travel package promotions. Malaysia (26.2%), Vietnam (11.8%), Australia (7.6%), Germany (+3.7%) and the UK (2.3%) all saw growth, which can be attributed in part to promotions under the Singapore Tourism Board's 2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore campaign.

Thailand (5.2%) and the USA (2.8%) also posted growth. South Korea's arrivals, however, declined 48.1% partly due to continued cautious travel sentiments around the global outbreak of H1N1.

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