Singapore attracts highest numbers of business visitors

In total, close to 25,000 foreign delegates, contributing at least £13 million (SGD 40 million) to Singapore’s total Tourism Receipts, visited Singapore to attend various business events including the 27th International Epilepsy Congress, Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza 2007 and the World Glaucoma Congress 2007. The events encompassed all four segments of the MICE industry including Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Exhibitions.

“The high concentration of business events in the month of July reaffirms Singapore’s position as a premier destination for high-level intellectual exchange and networking opportunities. Our strategic location and extensive connectivity, professional MICE industry, excellent infrastructure and strong knowledge-based economy all combine to make Singapore an ideal destination for MICE event organisers and visitors from all over the world,” said Mr Aloysius Arlando, Assistant Chief Executive, Business Travel and MICE Group, Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

“Leveraging STB’s Strategic Cluster Approach*, we will continue to build on the momentum of working with Singapore Inc government agencies and private sector industry partners to create, develop and attract more business events which will provide the platform for intellectual exchange and collaboration thus adding impetus to drive Singapore’s key economic sectors.”

Business Travel and MICE is identified as one of the key drivers of tourism in Singapore, with visitor arrivals constituting approximately 28 per cent of total visitor arrivals and 35 per cent of total tourism receipts (TR) or £1.3 billion (SGD 4 billion) in 2006. The STB aims to raise the contribution of the BTMICE sector to £3.5 billion (SGD 10.5 billion) while maintaining its overall proportionate share of total TR.

The increase in business events taking place in Singapore follows the launch in 2006 of the “BE in Singapore or Business Events in Singapore” Incentive Scheme, a £56.6 million (SGD170 million) initiative by the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) to finance the development of high calibre business events to be staged in Singapore over next five years (2006-2010).

One of the first recipients of the scheme was Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza 2007 (18 – 22 July), the largest corporate meeting that Singapore has ever hosted with close to 16,000 delegates from 14 countries.

The 27th International Epilepsy Congress (8 – 12 July) was one of the largest medical conventions in the world dedicated to epilepsy. It was jointly hosted by the Singapore Epilepsy Society (SEC) and the Singapore Epilepsy Foundation (SEF), and organised by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). Both ILAE and IBE are non-profit organisations with official links to the World Health Organization.

“Singapore is an ideal venue for international congresses as it’s easily accessible with a state-of-the-art telecommunications network and an excellent infrastructure. There are countless hotels to suit all budgets and cosmopolitan cuisine to suit all tastes thanks to its international makeup. It is a welcoming, clean, and above all, safe place, something that is of paramount importance to today’s international business traveller,” said Mr Richard Holmes, International Director of Meetings, ILAE and IBE.

The Congress brought together clinicians and researchers from different continents, facilitating the exchange of knowledge about this medical condition. Participants shared scientific and educational programmes that covered clinical updates and treatments. The programme also catered to clinicians who are non-epileptologists and allied health professionals who provide epilepsy care.

Amidst intensifying competition, Singapore is keenly aware of the need to continually re-invent itself to remain a relevant, compelling and appealing MICE destination. Mr Arlando said: “Singapore is moving beyond being merely an efficient and effective venue. We strive to be a catalyst for business success and an exchange capital of the world where people, technology and ideas converge to create value for both business events and visitors.”

With new developments such as the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and the redevelopment of the Marina Bay area into a vibrant MICE hub that will offer up to 200,000 sqm of convention and exhibition space, as well as exciting and enriching leisure and entertainment options, the stage is set for the SECB to partner the industry to attract, create and grow even more strategic business events.