Tourism in Singapore - Case Study Example

 Singapore is a country in the Asian continent. Singapore is located in the South Eastern part of Asia, on the south most of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore lies north of the equator, with her distance from the equator being estimated as one hundred and thirty-seven kilometers. Singapore as a country is composed mainly of several islands that consist the geographical definition of the state. Apart from the main island commonly referred to as the Singapore Island, Singapore as a country consists of other smaller islets that are estimated to be around sixty. The country has experienced high levels of urbanization with the growth of industries and technological development replacing the original vegetation in most parts of the country. The geographic location and landscape situation of Singapore makes it a dream destination for tourists. Apart from being close to the equator, the main island and the islets form a basis of tourist city attractions. Tourism is a primary income earner in Singapore and, therefore, the government has stepped up efforts to boost and support this activity. Statistics shows that Singapore is a major global player in the tourism industry (Board, 2011 pg. 66). Tourism in Singapore is one of the activities in that state that has gained not only global participation but global appreciation as well. Tourism has contributed a significant part of the Singapore economy with the income earned from tourism being used in government projects that increase the welfare of the people. The recent years have recorded an increase in the number of tourists visiting the country, even to as far as doubling the Singapore population. The government in Singapore has boosted tourism efforts by ensuring an environment-friendly country. The government has put in place natural heritage conservation programs, which make environment protection more of an obligation to every Singapore citizen. The government, in support of the citizens, has also ensured a beefed up security in the nation. World statistics shows that Singapore is one of the countries in the world with the lowest crime rates. Security is a vital issue for any aspiring and practicing tourist. Security factors, therefore, make Singapore a dream tourist destination. Communication acts as one of the challenges for travelers in new countries. Singapore’s major strength in overcoming communication issues for tourists is that she has four official languages. With English as the dominant language, visitors from the United States, Britain and other English-speaking nations are at comfort in Singapore. The extensive transport network is a major strength is ferrying the tourists to their destinations and at the right time. The buildings, shopping centers and varied culture in Singapore make every visitor remain loyal to that country as a destination. The country does not only own a variety of wildlife, but also owns different species of every kind. Ranging from trees to animals and even to birds, Singapore has ensured the use of these natural resources to the advantage of the tourists. The presence of historical sites in Singapore makes it a multipurpose destination for tourists (Board, 2011 pg. 46). The domestic tourism in Singapore has been dominated mainly by the tourist attraction sites. Other reasons, why tourist flock the nation, are the natural setting and the historical sites. Wildlife is a major factor in the history of tourism in Singapore, contributing to over forty percent of the tourists visiting the nation. Domestic tourism in Singapore has been developed by the citizens. Tourism in Singapore has not only been developed by the foreign part but also the local part. Citizens in the country enjoy the natural sites and the brain warming phenomenon created by the tourism sites and historical life. Domestic tourism contributes over ten percent of the total tourism in Singapore (Board, 2014 pg. 63). The government has stepped up efforts to encourage the citizens to participate actively in the domestic tourism. The inclusion of national heritage and culture in the tourist attraction list has been a significant boost towards helping the locals to contribute in the tourism sector. The government has also ensured that the taxes levied in the tourist sites are reduced to the lowest levels possible so that the common citizen can afford to participate. Domestic tourism in Singapore has recorded an increase in the recent years due to government participation in making the masses acknowledge the significance of domestic tourism. The tourism attraction sites in Singapore are plenty and of a varied diversity. Ranging from man-made features like infrastructural development and buildings to natural features like trees and wildlife, Singapore always enjoys her unique part of attraction sites (Teo, 2012 pg. 74). The attraction sites include the Orchard Road district. The Orchard Road is a specially designed setting that contains multi-story shopping centers and dining structures. The setting has attracted a larger number of tourists than any other destination in Singapore. The Singapore Zoo is another attraction that has brought a good number of tourists into the country. The zoo contains different types and different species of wildlife. Among the popular attraction sites in Singapore also includes the night safari. The night safari allows people of different cultures, origins and backgrounds to come together, interact and have a night out. The technological development has enhanced tourism in Singapore by the recent development of the open zoo technology where the wild animals are separated from the tourists by use of hidden dry or wet moats instead of the typical cages. Birds have been a very compelling tourist attraction in Singapore. The Jurong Bird Park is a tourist attraction that deals specifically with birds. The park is aimed at making the public aware of the variety of bird species that exist in the world. All the variety of birds is brought under one roof. The island of Sentosa has a variety of landmarks that attract a considerable number of tourists in the past five years. Singapore has a variety of attraction sites that contribute largely to the tourism industry. Transport in Singapore is another contributing factor to the development of tourism in the country. The extensive network of transport in the country has contributed to the large number of tourists flocking into the country annually (Henderson, 2011 pg. 48). The ability of visitors to move freely within the borders of Singapore has made all tourist attraction sites accessible within a very short period. The main form of transport in Singapore is the road network, with almost sixty percent of the region being covered by traffic free roads. A good number of the islands can be easily accessed by roads. The other primary form of transport in Singapore is the railway network. The Singapore railway system also covers a big percentage of the expansive land. Technological improvements in the rail transport have ensured increased speed and efficiency in the railway system. Water transport is also used in Singapore to connect the main island with other islets. Ferryboat services are the primary means of water transport within the country’s borders. Most importantly for tourism, Singapore is a host to international airports that ferry tourists from their home countries. World statistics shows that the main means of transport for visitors outside the country is through air. Singapore airports have recorded an increasing number of internal arrivals in terms of visitors for the last ten years. Accommodation in Singapore is one of the expensive areas in which the government has invested (Board, 2014 pg. 37). Accommodation services have been enhanced by buildings and modern architectural constructions which provide accommodation services. Singapore is a home to posh restaurants and classy hotels which provide professional catering and accommodation services. Tourists find the country warm welcoming in terms of food and reservations. The climate in Singapore has been very supportive for tourist arrivals. The climate of Singapore for the past five years has been relatively predictable (Teo, 2012 pg. 53). The predictability of climate has made it possible for experts to warn correctly of dangerous weather patterns for incoming international and local tourists. The warm impressing climate during summer has been noted as the best preference for visitors. A large number of tourists visit the country during the warm summer climate and it is, therefore, the predictability of tourist turn out due to weather patterns is relatively accurate. Singapore is a state that has shown great interest in the tourism industry. The country is a global tourist destination threat and, therefore, some of the challenges facing tourism in that country must be addressed. Such challenges have included insecurity. Although Singapore is one of the safest world destinations, instability issues remain a setback in the tourism industry. The other challenge of tourism in Singapore is poor turnout in the necessary domestic tourism. Domestic tourism should be the back born of any tourism development in a nation. Domestic tourism also encourages international turn out of foreigners and promotes the tourism industry. The future of tourism in Singapore can be determined by addressing the challenges experienced so far in the industry. The government and other necessary bodies should engage and come up with ways to improve the tourism industry in Singapore. References Board, S. T. (2014). International visitor arrival statistics. Board, S. T. (2011). Chilli crab. Board, S. T. (2011). Singapore Tourism Board annual report 2010/2011. Singapore: Singapore Tourism Board. Henderson, J. C., Chee, L., Mun, C. N., & Lee, C. (2011). Shopping, tourism and retailing in Singapore. Managing Leisure, 16(1), 36-48. Teo, P., & Chang, T. C. (2012). Singapore: tourism development in. Tourism in south and southeast Asia, 117. Read More