Singapore Gets Record High Tourists And Hotel Rates

[peter991]

Singapore gets record high tourists and hotel rates

According to recent reports Singapore has just recorded its highest ever volume of travellers in for November as well as the highest room rates in history.

November 2007 saw 837,000 visits to Singapore, the region’s highest ever November record, and is a 4.6% increase on 2006 figures, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Along with this November average room rates lifted to SGD226 (USD156) a night, an increase of 30% on November 2006 rates and the highest ever seen.

Altogether, Singapore’s hotels managed to record revenues of SGD175.4 million in November, a 24% increase from 2006.

These very positive reports come even though occupancy rates for the month were down 4.2% to 88%.

Key markets which helped to boost numbers in November were China, India, Australia and Malaysia.

Visitor numbers to Singapore for the first 11 months of the year add up to 9.3 million, compared to the 10.2 million the STB hopes to achieve for the full year.

[PhilHarries]

Of the 837,000 I wonder how many were true visits TO Singapore and how many were just a couple of day stopovers. Obviously the Malaysians were visits to the state but I bet they were just one day shopping trips. Probably why the visitor numbers are up but the hotel occupancy is down. For me Singapore is worth a long weekend and no more as I do not do shopping.

[mrtoad]

Of the 837,000 I wonder how many were true visits TO Singapore and how many were just a couple of day stopovers. Obviously the Malaysians were visits to the state but I bet they were just one day shopping trips. Probably why the visitor numbers are up but the hotel occupancy is down. For me Singapore is worth a long weekend and no more as I do not do shopping.

Yeah, I think that you are probably correct. The majority of people who "holiday" in Singapore are normally only there for 3 or 4 days, and normally on a stop over or a short shopping trip from within the region. What is not in doubt is that the economy in S'pore is booming, and with development of the Casinos, visitor numbers will continue to increase and attract big spending tourists.

[Florin]

Hotel price/quality ratio over there is beyond ridiculous, if not on a visa run staying in Johor Bahru is much more worthwhile...a room at the Hyatt there costs as much as a 3-star ill-kept shithole in Singapore.

[wintermute]

Hotel price/quality ratio over there is beyond ridiculous, if not on a visa run staying in Johor Bahru is much more worthwhile...a room at the Hyatt there costs as much as a 3-star ill-kept shithole in Singapore.

How is it ridiculous? Singapore is more or less a first world nation-state with a GDP comparable with the smaller EU nations. Their hotels are about the same price as a U.S. or EU city which is fairly consistent with the GDP per capita.

[legag]

I'm not surprised!! That small lil dot country is getting bigger and bigger!!

[wintermute]

Of the 837,000 I wonder how many were true visits TO Singapore and how many were just a couple of day stopovers. Obviously the Malaysians were visits to the state but I bet they were just one day shopping trips. Probably why the visitor numbers are up but the hotel occupancy is down. For me Singapore is worth a long weekend and no more as I do not do shopping.

Yeah, I think that you are probably correct. The majority of people who "holiday" in Singapore are normally only there for 3 or 4 days, and normally on a stop over or a short shopping trip from within the region. What is not in doubt is that the economy in S'pore is booming, and with development of the Casinos, visitor numbers will continue to increase and attract big spending tourists.

The short holidaymaker or the transit shopper is probably the most valuable tourist. I believe even TAT estimated that the majority of tourists in Thailand stay on average around 8 days or something like that. Thailand would love to have tourists come in and drop big money for a few nights and then scram. This is why Thailand has been pushing hard to be an "upmarket" destination complete with big shiny shopping malls like paragon, new airport, and new big spendy resorts. The only problem is Thailand's competition is Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia who still have the lion's share of that industry.

[mrtoad]

Of the 837,000 I wonder how many were true visits TO Singapore and how many were just a couple of day stopovers. Obviously the Malaysians were visits to the state but I bet they were just one day shopping trips. Probably why the visitor numbers are up but the hotel occupancy is down. For me Singapore is worth a long weekend and no more as I do not do shopping.

Yeah, I think that you are probably correct. The majority of people who "holiday" in Singapore are normally only there for 3 or 4 days, and normally on a stop over or a short shopping trip from within the region. What is not in doubt is that the economy in S'pore is booming, and with development of the Casinos, visitor numbers will continue to increase and attract big spending tourists.

The short holidaymaker or the transit shopper is probably the most valuable tourist. I believe even TAT estimated that the majority of tourists in Thailand stay on average around 8 days or something like that. Thailand would love to have tourists come in and drop big money for a few nights and then scram. This is why Thailand has been pushing hard to be an "upmarket" destination complete with big shiny shopping malls like paragon, new airport, and new big spendy resorts. The only problem is Thailand's competition is Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia who still have the lion's share of that industry.

And will continue to do so for as long as corrupt self interested politicians and junta's run the country. All of the aforementioned countries have far better infastructure, are generally safer, less scams, no dual pricing in general, do not base a large slice of their tourists on the sex industry, and are basically developed countries. Thailand has a long way to go, before it can compete, and it might help if TAT etc realised that you only get one chance to make a good impression.

[Florin]

Hotel price/quality ratio over there is beyond ridiculous, if not on a visa run staying in Johor Bahru is much more worthwhile...a room at the Hyatt there costs as much as a 3-star ill-kept shithole in Singapore.

How is it ridiculous? Singapore is more or less a first world nation-state with a GDP comparable with the smaller EU nations. Their hotels are about the same price as a U.S. or EU city which is fairly consistent with the GDP per capita.

You have a point, but this is consistent only with the most expensive places in Europe, like London or Paris...and prices in Singapore are kept at that level all-year round, whereas for large portions of the year you can get a 4-star room at (for example) the NH chain in Spain or France for 100-120 bucks. Also, in Central/Eastern Europe, that money will get you a room in a brand new (or very recently renovated) hotel, whereas most of the hotels in Singapore have been built 10-20 years ago and have generally not been refurbished much. Even Hong Kong can provide much nicer equipped (albeit smaller) rooms for Singapore-level prices.

I just think they're taking advantage of the high demand for accommodation to keep prices high...nothing wrong with that, but places like the Hilton or Marriott offer disgraceful quality for their price!

[torrenova]

I've got some business to do down in Singapore and some of the mid range hotels I've been looking at have raised their rates about 30% since November and with Chinese New Year coming in February I can't see any possible reduction until perhaps April.

[draggons]

Just spent christmas down in Singapore and had forgoten just how bloody expensive it is

[Prakanong]

I know our corporate rates have jumped at the likes of Raffles the Plaza (now the Fairmont or something) from 180 to 250 a night

They need more hotels here and they are planned - its catch up time.

If you think Singapore is bad in this area try getting a bed in Bangalore - 360 USD I was paying (well the company was)

Booming economy means demand for beds for visitors - cost of doing business here - I bet Thailand wish it had this problem!

[naka]

Of the 837,000 I wonder how many were true visits TO Singapore and how many were just a couple of day stopovers. Obviously the Malaysians were visits to the state but I bet they were just one day shopping trips. Probably why the visitor numbers are up but the hotel occupancy is down. For me Singapore is worth a long weekend and no more as I do not do shopping.

Yes, and the same with tourism numbers in Malaysia ... most are Singaporeans

going over the causeway for the morning to stock up on groceries

Naka.

[NanLaew]

Sort of justifies why the US State Department per-diem for Singapore rose from US$329 in November 2007 to US$487 only one month later. The food and beverage content of the per-diem rose only 14 dollars whereas the lodging component went up a whopping 144 bucks or 58%!