SINGAPORE: The number of visitors to Singapore reached 844,000 in August, down 0.7 percent over the same period last year.
The year-on-year decline was the smallest this year.
Indonesia, Australia, China, India and Malaysia were Singapore's top five visitor-generating markets.
Visitors from the five countries accounted for 47.6 percent of total visitor arrivals for the month.
The biggest increase in visitor numbers came from Malaysia, followed by Hong Kong.
Arrivals from Malaysia rose 40 percent annually to 62,000 while 36,000 travellers arrived from Hong Kong, up 34.7 percent.
"Their growth could be partly attributed to airfare promotions and
Singapore Tourism Board's in-market activities coinciding with
Malaysia's National Day and Hong Kong's summer holidays," said
Singapore Tourism Board's statement.
Visitor arrivals from Australia (+2.5%), the Philippines (+2.5%),
Taiwan (+3.3%) and Germany (+5.9%) also saw growth, while those from
the United States (0%) were comparable to August 2008.
Singapore has said it expects to receive about 9.0 million to 9.5
million travellers this year, generating an expected revenue of S$12
billion to S$12.5 billion.
It received 10.1 million visitors last year, missing its target of
10.8 million as travel slowed in the second half due to the global
slump.
- CNA/ir