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Singapore to woo Indian tourists

By T.S. Shankar

CHENNAI July 10. As part of its efforts to tap the Indian travel market in a big way, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has launched an aggressive marketing campaign to promote its new brand identity — ``Live it up Singapore''.

Detailing the STB plans to woo the Asian travellers, the South and West Asia Regional Director of STB, Vimal Harnal, told The Hindu that Singapore received 3,43,000 overseas visitors, of whom Indian tourists accounted for 4 to 5 per cent.

He said there was a small dip of 1.9 per cent in tourist arrival after the September 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. and added that Singapore could take the credit of being the only city in South-East Asia not severely affected by the attack.

Pointing out that the STB had accorded top priority to the Indian market as it had made its presence felt since 1993, Mr. Harnal and Sonali Chaturvedi, STB's South Asia Marketing Officer, Mumbai, explained that the organisation was targeting eight gateway cities in India.

Ms. Sonali said the Dolphin Lagoon and the musical fountain at the Sentosa, the eastern and oriental express linking Singapore and Changmai in Thailand, the night safari, and the Esplanade Theatre on the Marina Bay, the night racing experience at the Turf Club, and the fitness and spa besides karoke lounges, night clubs and discotheques catered to different age groups.

Earlier, addressing a travel agents update seminar, organised by the STB, Mr. Harnal said there had been a six to eight per cent growth in overseas tourists.

The average length of stay of Indians had increased and they continue to hold the status of being the ``highest spenders''. Similar seminars were being held in Nagpur, Pune, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

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