SINGAPORE: Singapore Tourism Board Introduces App To Improve Tourism Business

Small businesses hoping to get a share of the tourist dollar now have an easier way to grow their reach through a new online platform that allows them to share their content with a broader audience, or use resources from it to improve their own services.

The Tourism Information and Service Hub, launched yesterday by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), will provide a one-stop tourism resource for businesses.

Attractions can, for example, upload their operating hours and events to gain exposure, while travel businesses here and abroad may download such information and have updates automatically reflected on their linked websites and apps.

STB chief executive Lionel Yeo, who launched the hub at STB's annual tourism industry conference, said the platform addresses an industry need to have more up-to-date information about tourism offerings and to have a one-stop source to find out what is happening in Singapore.

The platform also provides access to content or software that can be used on a website or app of a business. It is free for businesses to use.

Mr Alvin Yapp, owner of The Intan, a private Peranakan museum, is one of more than 600 companies that have registered.

We don't have a huge marketing budget to reach out to tour agents or potential customers, Visitors may have difficulty finding these niche experiences, and the hub now allows smaller players like myself to connect, said Mr Yapp.

Mr Yeo said data analytics will also play a bigger role in tourism.

The Singapore Tourism Analytics Network, launched last year for internal use by the STB, will now be made available to external stakeholders in phases, said Mr Yeo.

The network uses aggregated visitor geo-location data, among other information, to gather insights on tourists here.

The STB has already entered into data partnerships with industry members, including Sentosa Development Corporation and Expedia.

Under a partnership cemented this week, Expedia will provide booking and search data to the STB to share with tourism stakeholders here, a first for the booking platform.

Other plans announced at the conference included a new night experience at the Singapore Zoo and Marvel-themed events.

A Marvel Studios, Ten Years Of Heroes exhibition will run for three months from June at the ArtScience Museum as part of STB's three-year partnership with The Walt Disney Company South-east Asia to bring themed events and activities here.

Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, speaking at the event yesterday, noted that increased air connectivity and a rapidly growing middle class in the region are among the factors projected to raise international visitor arrivals to the Asia-Pacific from 279 million in 2015 to 535 million in 2030.

The industry can better leverage technology to sharpen marketing and outreach efforts, complement and refresh tourism offerings and drive better productivity, he added.

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Tourism Observer

SINGAPORE: Under Extreme Pleasure, But Authorities Arrest Men And Women In Forest

According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Singapore is "criminally shiok". (The Singlish word, it explained, denotes "extreme pleasure".)

The board took on the perceived negative portrayal of Singapore in a recent US television series Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders episode, which drew much flak from netizens for its inaccurate depiction of the little red dot.

In answer, STB on its VisitSingapore Facebook page posted picturesque shots of Singapore on Thursday night.

It also wrote "Is this what the 'dark side of paradise' looks like?" in the tongue-in-cheek post.

The photographs included the Marina Bay skyline, Changi Airport and Makansutra Gluttons Bay.

The television episode, titled Cinderella And The Dragon and released on April 12, was Singapore-themed.

It contained references to the country that netizens slammed as stereotypical and inaccurate.

The episode opened with a non-existent "Singapore proverb" written in Chinese that said: "Where there is a sea, there are pirates."

VisitSingapore wrote its own slogan: "Visit Singapore: 'Criminally' Shiok".

'SHIOK'

It added: "This is the real Singaporean 'proverb'. For the uninitiated, 'shiok' denotes an expression of extreme pleasure."

A special agent in the television show referred to Geylang as "the dark side of paradise", calling it "an overcrowded slum with a thriving underworld" where the Ministry of Manpower sends foreign workers to stay.

VisitSingapore countered with a photo of Geylang, saying: "Not quite the 'overcrowded slum' - Geylang's intricately designed shophouses paint a pretty picture."

The post, which has garnered more than 1,100 likes and 300 shares, was praised by Facebook users.

Authorities arrested 10 men and three women in the forested areas along Kaki Bukit Avenue 4 near the Bartley viaduct in an anti-vice operation.

The men are believed to be from India and Bangladesh, and the women from Thailand.

During the three-hour long operation, the suspects were arrested for wilful trespass on state land, offences under the Women’s Charter, suspected consumption of controlled drugs or for offences under the Immigration Act, Chapter 133.

The press was at the scene to witness the operation by officers from Bedok Division of the Singapore Police Force and the Central Narcotics Bureau.

An opening in the tall grass marked the entrance which led to a clearing believed to be where the illicit activities were carried out.

Walking through the well-trodden path, the press saw discarded condoms, used tissue paper and tubes of lubricant littering the damp forest floor. Amidst tall vegetation, two mattresses were found with insects crawling around the area.

At least one of the women was naked when officers arrested the suspects.
The area was active from around 8pm to midnight and the women were charging $20 per customer.

By 10.30pm, the suspects had been rounded up and taken away for questioning.

After the operation, commanding officer of Tampines Neighbourhood Police Centre, Superintendent Matthew Choo, said those who think they can commit crime by operating under the cover of forested areas are sadly mistaken.

He said: “The Police will come down hard on such activities and those who take part in these illicit activities will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

Those convicted for wilful trespass under Section 21 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, Chapter 184, can be fined up to $1,000.

Investigations are ongoing.