THE report on tourist arrivals cited Singapore's Formula One
motor racing event as having raised September's tourist numbers by
18.4 per cent over those of September last year ('F1 helped fuel
rise in Sept visitor arrivals'; Oct 30).
The Singapore Tourism Board attributed the increase in part to
the Grand Prix and 'the draw of many leisure and entertainment
events' held at that time.
However, in the months of January, March, May and July - when
there were no special events taking place - the increase in tourist
numbers over last year's in the corresponding months were either
similar or better.
The comparative figures given by the Singapore Tourism Board for
tourist arrivals for January, March, May and July this year and
last year (in brackets) were 908,486 (772,138), 928,719 (791,236),
946,472 (726,391) and 1.094 million (882,107) respectively. The
numbers represented an increase of 17.7 per cent for January this
year, 17.4 per cent (March), 30.3 per cent (May) and 24 per cent
(July).
In September, when Singapore hosted the F1, visitor arrivals
rose to 946,979, compared with 799,496 during the same month last
year - an increase of 18.4 per cent. But, compared with the other
ordinary months, there is no evidence of an extraordinary boost
from F1.
The figures for August, when Singapore hosted the Youth Olympic
Games (YOG), tell the same story. Some 996,500 tourists arrived
here in August, compared with 844,649 in the same month last year,
an 18 per cent increase.
The August and September figures do not suggest that the two
marquee events brought about an extraordinary surge in tourist
arrivals.
Ng Kok Lim