The Senior Minister of Trade and Industry in Singapore, Mr S Iswaran, has been speaking today at the opening ceremony of Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) 2008. He declared that Singapore had a record breaking year in tourism in 2007 with 10.2 million visitors and close to S$14 billion in tourism receipts. The target the government is aiming for by 2015 is 17 million visitors and S$30 billion in tourism receipts.

“This strong growth in the tourism sector is set to continue in the years ahead, especially with the advent of new attractions like the Singapore Flyer and the upcoming F1 race in September this year. Beyond 2008, we will also see the completion of the two integrated resorts (IRs), development of the Mandai area, the Gardens by the Bay, rejuvenation of Orchard Road and the completion of the International Cruise Terminal.”

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is actively working with tourism establishments to recruit and train manpower through the Training Industry Professionals in Tourism (TIP-iT) scheme. Resorts World at Sentosa will be utilising this scheme to send over 1,300 of their new personnel in groups to Malaysia’s Genting Highlands and Universal Studios Park for up to 3 months to gain exposure to casino and theme park operations. The STB hopes to help more tourism establishments with recruitment and training.

Mr Iswaran commented that despite the significant strides that Singapore was taking to employ more locals in the tourism industry, in the short-term the country would have to rely on foreign sources to augment the necessary manpower. He concluded that with government and industry working together Singapore would become an exciting tourist and gourmet destination, whilst offering the people of Singapore rewarding career opportunities. (E-04.22.08)

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