Singapore Tourism Board Developing New Tourism Roadmap

The Singapore Tourism Board is developing a new tourism roadmap called Tourism Compass 2020, which will be an enhancement of Tourism 2015, a tourism blueprint launched in 2005 with a vision to become Asia’s leading MICE city, leisure destination, and services centre. It targeted to achieve Sin$30 billion in tourism receipts and 17 million visitor arrivals to Singapore by 2015.

Since then, the Singapore landscape has undergone a dynamic change in the last four years, and a dramatically different Singapore skyline will emerge over the next few years as tourism products such as the Integrated Resorts, the Gardens by the Bay project and the International Cruise Terminal come on stream.

Global events such as one of the worst economic slowdowns seen in years, and health scares like the Swine Flu (H1N1) pandemic and Avian Flu, have also had a significant impact on the tourism landscape.

Ms Aw Kah Peng, STB’s Chief Executive and co-chair of the Tourism Compass 2020 Steering Committee said, “Singapore as a destination has undergone a rapid transformation in the last few years. While the current environment may be challenging, we are upbeat about the long term prospects for growth in tourism. This is why we are developing Tourism Compass 2020 – to identify and capitalise on emerging opportunities afforded by new travel trends, so that we can further tourism’s contribution as a key driver of Singapore’s economy.”

STB has put together a Steering Committee that includes members of the Tourism Consultative Council (TCC), who are leaders in the business and tourism sector. The Tourism Compass 2020 Steering Committee will provide strategic direction for future tourism development in Singapore.

Five Taskforces have also been set up to map out tourism strategies specifically pertaining to the areas of Business, Enrichment, Lifestyle, Marketing, and Travel and Hospitality. Each Taskforce is led jointly by STB and Tourism Consultative Council (TCC) representatives, and is supported by members of various backgrounds from the private and public sectors who provide valuable insights and perspectives.

Adding a further dimension to this broad-based approach is STB’s call for ideas from members of the public, who may not be part of the industry but are equally passionate about shaping the future of Singapore tourism.

They can contribute by sending in comments, suggestions, images and videos to the Tourism Compass 2020 website, over the next four months.

Explaining this broad-based approach, Mr Gerald Lee, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of The Ascott Group Limited and also co-chair of the Tourism Compass 2020 Steering Committee, said, “This will provide us fresh perspectives and a 360-degree vantage point for a sustainable tourism roadmap. Tourism is not just for visitors; Singapore tourism belongs to residents too. By bringing members of the public into this discussion, we hope to include ideas and suggestions close to the hearts of people living in Singapore, Singaporeans based overseas, visitors who love Singapore – everyone. We want to evolve the destination into one that will excite and engage people in a personal and authentic way.”

From October 2009 to January 2010, the public can vote for the most creative ideas submitted via the Tourism Compass 2020 website. The top three contributors as voted by the public each month will go on to enjoy experiences at Resorts World Sentosa and Dempsey Hill. Their ideas may also be incorporated into the Tourism Compass 2020 roadmap.