Singapore raises the bar
SINGAPORE has long
been a popular hub for
passengers connecting
to the Far East and Australia.
But the rise of the Middle
East hubs has meant that the
city has had to think of new
ways to make the destination
more attractive to travellers
for longer stays.
“Where the average stay
used to be between one
and two days to catch up
on a few local tours and
some shopping, the city is
now building a name as a
gourmet destination. Also,
the F1 Grand Prix held
at night in the streets is
drawing bigger crowds every
year,” says John Ridler,
spokesperson for Cullinan
Outbound Tourism.
“There are new spectacular
buildings in the style of Dubai
and Shanghai to give the city
a more iconic look. The bar
has been raised with the new
Mandarin Bay Sands Hotel
sporting a spectacular 57th
floor rooftop pool stretched
across three tower blocks
and, with newer attractions
like Universal Studios and
the Singapore Flyer, there
certainly is more to attract
the crowds,” he says.
David Bradshaw, Travel
Vision’s strategic products
manager, says Singapore
is a big destination for
the operator’s Far East
department, particularly
corporate bookings.
“Leisure clients may stay
for two or three nights. The
corporate bookings are
usually a lot longer. We are
seeing a steady, ongoing
increase in travellers to
Singapore.”
Singapore Airlines’ market
development manager,
Sally George, agrees that
travel from South Africa to
Singapore is increasing. “Our
2015 load factors are up
on last year; we have strong
bookings for March and our
Easter period is busy.”
10 things to do....
TNW asked South African
travel agents what
attractions they would
suggest for visitors to
Singapore. Here are their
suggestions…
1. The Old Ford Factory
The old Ford Motors
assembly plant, a favourite
of Megan Clark from Flight
Centre Ballito, is where
the British surrendered
Singapore to the Japanese
on February 15, 1942. It’s
now a war museum, giving
visitors an idea of what life
was like during the Japanese
occupation in World War 2.
Travellers can catch bus 170
to get there. Entry costs
SGD3 (R25,50).
2. Cooking classes at
Sunrice
Cooking classes at Sunrice
(at the top of Fort Canning
Park) are a culinary
adventure, says Carlson
Wagonlit’s Sonika Troskie.
For around SGD80 (R680)
per class, visitors can learn
from professional chefs and
enjoy a tasting session.
3. Play 18 holes at
Ria Bintan
Playing at the Ria Bintan Golf
Club, a championship layout
designed by Gary Player, is
an idea suggested by Liz
Potgieter from Sure Epcot
Travel in Brakpan. Excursions
can be booked through
Travel Vision. For direct
bookings, the Ria Bintan
resort offers an Express
Package, comprising a return
ferry ticket from Singapore
to Bintan; a round of golf
with a shared buggy and
caddy; immigration clearance
into Bintan; transfers from
the ferry terminal to the
resort; golf bag handling fee
and golfer’s insurance, for
SGD149 (R1 270) Monday to
Friday or SGD189
(R1 600) on weekends or
public holidays.
4. Legoland Malaysia
Doriane Ribeiro from Sure
Travel Scene in Kempton
Park suggests a day trip to
Legoland Malaysia – only
40km from Singapore. The
average price of SGD56
(R475) includes return bus
transport from Singapore and
entrance tickets.
A stroll around the
MacRitchie Reservoir
Close to the city centre
(travellers can catch bus
51071) is the MacRitchie
Reservoir, part of Singapore’s
water catchment system.
Trails surround the park,
which has a visitor’s centre
with a café, restrooms and
information station, says
Heidi Bedford from Go Travel
in Port Alfred. The best views
are from the TreeTop Walk, a
250-metre suspension bridge
across the rainforest canopy.
Take hiking shoes and bring
water. Entrance is free.
6. Picture perfect at
the Ritz Carlton Hotel
There are a number of
reasons to pop into the Ritz
Carlton Hotel, says Olena
Doyle from Sure Ritz Travel
Windhoek. The amazing
artwork, which can be
viewed for no charge, should
be a priority, she says.
7. Get spooked by
the Asia Paranormal
Investigators
For the low-down on urban
legends, Charles Goh is the
man, says Charlene Muller
from The Departure Lounge
in Randburg. Charles,
the co-founder of Asian
Paranormal Investigators, is
known for his night tours.
It’s a three- to four-hour
guided tour with a history
lesson thrown in. Tours cost
SGD45 (R382) per person.
8. Tea and art jam at
Arteastiq
Tasmia Walters from One
Stop Travel and Tours
recommends going for
high tea at Arteastiq at
the Mandarin Gallery – a
worthwhile experience for
SGD48 (R408). The venue is
a restaurant that combines
tea and an art experience.
Customers are provided with
a canvas, unlimited acrylic
paint, brushes, sponges and
a palette.
9. To hell and back
‘A holiday in hell’ is not a
negative thing for Gillian
Gerber from XL Travel
Bedfordview, who urges
visitors to head to Haw Par
Villa on Pasir Panjang Road,
a theme park containing
over 1 000 statues. The
best known attraction is the
Ten Courts of Hell, featuring
gruesome depictions of hell
in Chinese mythology and
Buddhism. Entrance is free.
10. The German Girl
Shrine
A shrine to an unnamed
girl who became a deity is
situated on the island of
Pulau Ubin, off the coast
of Singapore, something
that Liz Budge of XL
Oceanair Travel says is a
fascinating place to visit.
Inside a small yellow hut is
an altar covered with items
like nail polish, brushes and
lipstick. The girl remembered
here died just before World
War I trying to escape when
British soldiers came to
round up her family. It is a
five-minute ‘bumboat’
ride to the island, costing
SGD2 (R17) from Changi
Point jetty.
High-speed thrills
F1 Grand Prix Tours is
offering packages to the
Singapore Grand Prix night
race, to be held this year
on September 6. Packages
include return flights; four- and
five-star hotel accommodation
options on the circuit and
all transfers. Corporate and
private hospitality packages
offer race viewing from suites;
F1 Paddock Club entry; unique
F1 team hospitality and afterparties
with the drivers. F1
Grand Prix Tours is the official
F1 ticket agent for the event.
Packages are commissionable
to agents.
Singapore Airlines has launched a new product – ‘Singapore
Explorer Pass 2015-16’ – offering travellers access to 22 different
attractions and benefits in Singapore. The pass can be purchased
by SIA or Silk Air passengers transiting through Singapore or
travelling to Singapore as their final destination. It is valid for
sale until September 30 this year, for redemption at tourist
attractions until March 31 next year. It cannot be combined with
the Singapore Stopover Holiday Package.
1-day pass: SGD45 (R382) per adult, SGD30 (R255)per child
2-day pass: SGD80 (R680) per adult, SGD55 (R467)per child
3-day pass: SGD100 (R850) per adult, SGD70 (R595) per child
Four-star Parc Sovereign Hotel: From R12 960 per person
sharing, valid from May 1 to June 26. The package includes
return flights from Johannesburg to Singapore on SQ; four nights’
accommodation in a superior room; daily breakfast; return airport
hotel transfers; and all pre-payable airport taxes and fuel levies
(approx. taxes of R5 135).
For 2015, Travel Vision is booking a number of sightseeing tours,
including the Night Safari Tour, SGD66 (R566); City Tour with
Singapore Flyer, SGD79 (R677) and the Sentosa Tour, SGD92
(R789). It offers a list of ‘Best Buy’ hotels suited to different
budgets, allowing it to tailor-make packages to travellers’
tastes.
Book it!
Singapore Airlines has launched a new product – ‘Singapore
Explorer Pass 2015-16’ – offering travellers access to 22 different
attractions and benefits in Singapore. The pass can be purchased
by SIA or Silk Air passengers transiting through Singapore or
travelling to Singapore as their final destination. It is valid for
sale until September 30 this year, for redemption at tourist
attractions until March 31 next year. It cannot be combined with
the Singapore Stopover Holiday Package.
1-day pass: SGD45 (R382) per adult, SGD30 (R255)per child
2-day pass: SGD80 (R680) per adult, SGD55 (R467)per child
3-day pass: SGD100 (R850) per adult, SGD70 (R595) per child
Four-star Parc Sovereign Hotel: From R12 960 per person
sharing, valid from May 1 to June 26. The package includes
return flights from Johannesburg to Singapore on SQ; four nights’
accommodation in a superior room; daily breakfast; return airport
hotel transfers; and all pre-payable airport taxes and fuel levies
(approx. taxes of R5 135).
For 2015, Travel Vision is booking a number of sightseeing tours,
including the Night Safari Tour, SGD66 (R566); City Tour with
Singapore Flyer, SGD79 (R677) and the Sentosa Tour, SGD92
(R789). It offers a list of ‘Best Buy’ hotels suited to different
budgets, allowing it to tailor-make packages to travellers’
tastes.
