Discussion

The current slippage would not be much of a problem if Singapore can use effective promotion campaigns to tap into key markets that have shown strong growth potential, such as China and India. According to WTO, there will be approximately 100 million Chinese overseas tourists. Moreover, Singapore can draw these travelers in by offering them attractive travel packages and promotions that will convey Singapore’s quality and exciting experiences at value-for-money prices. Yes, I do agree. Singapore government can leverage online media and various marketing channels such as Facebook to create attention-grabbing campaigns aiming at this enormous market. Attracted by these advertisements, groups of overseas tourists will contribute greatly to Singapore tourism revenues.

Excellent ideas! Secondly, Interregional tourism and cooperation with surrounding countries are effective ways to cope with the deficiency in tourist attractions. Government should encourage transnational travel agencies to create routes that include many of the south-eastern countries such as, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. This means to combine all the advantages of each place so that mutual benefits can be achieved.

All right! to simplify the exit and entry procedures lies in the key to tourist arrivals. According to the survey done by our group shown below, 32% of foreign tourists feel frustrated by the cumbersome entry procedures to Singapore. 

Question: Do you feel frustrated by the cumbersome entry procedures to Singapore?

This figure clears shows that the currently troublesome entry procedure should be improved. Schngen Agreement, which is a successful experience of European countries worth learning from. Under this agreement, tourists with visa of any of the members can travel around these countries without being bothered. Thus, Singapore can also sign such agreement with other south-eastern countries to simplify the process of applying for visas.

In summary, Singapore government can use effective promotions to exploit and utilize the enormous market from China and India. Besides, cooperating with surrounding countries and transnational agencies to develop interregional tourism is effective to draw more tourists in. what’s more, to simplify the exit and entrance procedures also helps satisfy the need of foreign tourists.

contributor: Wu Jianglu, Liu Dong, Yuan Mengyi