Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Singapore’s top tourism official is optimistic about meeting the year’s target of drawing between 15.1 - 15.5 million tourists despite a decrease of arrivals in the first seven months of the year.
Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said despite the slow start, Singapore still maintains its goal of between 15.1 and 15.5 million visitors this year, a three-percent increase from 2014.
The number of tourists for the period from January to July fell 1.7 percent against the same period last year.
Travel firms said the STB’s goal is feasible as they predict an increase of long-stay holidaymakers in the later months of the year as a result of the strong English pounds and US dollar compared to Singapore dollars.
In addition, more tourists from Indonesia and China, Singapore’s key markets, are expected to visit the island country in the last months of the year.
According to industry experts, several major events such as the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix will attract more tourists to the island.-VNA
