HOUSE OF THE WEEK
Warm single-storey house in Thingangyun
UNCOMPLICATED suburban living sums up this single-level house in Thingangyun township. The house is not overly spacious but there is a nice garden and lawn as compensation. more
Singapore welcomes 9.7 million visitors
(Volume 26, No. 510)
SINGAPORE – Singapore welcomed 9.7 million visitors in 2009, down 4.3 percent from 2008 but exceeding forecasts due to an aggressive marketing campaign amid a global recession, the government said last week
A surge in arrivals in the final quarter of last year boosted the numbers to beat the government’s forecast of up to 9.5 million visitors, the Singapore Tourism Board said in a statement released on February 9.
Tourism receipts were estimated at S$12.4 billion (US$8.75 billion), down 19pc from 2008 but within the upper range of targets.
Singapore, a tiny island-state that relies mainly on man-made attractions to lure tourists, is hoping to boost visitor arrivals with the operation of two multi-billion-dollar casino resorts.
One of the casinos, Resorts World Sentosa, was expected to open over the weekend, according to media reports. The complex will include a Universal Studios theme park. The other, built by Las Vegas Sands, is expected to open in April. – AFP
