Busting the ‘stopover destination’ myth
AFFORDABLE
connection fares
and an awardwinning
airport that
offers seemingly endless
activities to keep travellers
occupied during layovers
makes Singapore an
appealing city to fly via.
But with so much to see,
do and explore in the ‘Lion
City’ itself, the belief that it
is only good as a stopover
destination is nothing but
a myth. The Singapore
Tourism Board’s new
campaign, ‘Passion Made
Possible’, highlights the
many experiences on offer.
To take from its marketing
collateral: “Experiences
are being crafted, cooked,
painted, designed, grown
or built by locals who share
a common trait: passion.”
Abdul Rahman Mohideen,
area director – Middle
East and Africa of the
Singapore Tourism Board,
says the misconception
that it is only a stopover
destination was largely due
to Singapore being a
small island. He adds that
South African travel
agents who have visited
Singapore themselves and
seen that there is much
local travellers would enjoy,
are going against the trend
of promoting multi-country
itineraries for southeast
Asia and pushing monodestination
packages to
Singapore instead.
Below, Singapore experts
round up their top reasons
to spend extra time in the
city-state.
Food, glorious food!
The vibrant and wellregulated
street food
culture that has placed
Singapore on the cuisine
map is among the safest
in the world.
According to Lance van
den Heever-Liebenberg,
md of Marmalade Toast
Bespoke Travel: “Travellers
can explore Singapore
through its intriguing food
culture, especially at
hawkers’ markets, where
vendors sell authentic,
ready-to-eat delicacies
from small booths.”
Dishes include Singapore
wanton noodles, pork rib
soup, chilli crab, fried
carrot cake, curry laksa
and kaya toast with softboiled
eggs.
“Singapore offers eastern
and western cuisines, so
travellers can enjoy a great
variety of gastronomic
experiences at hawker
centres, street cafés
and Michelin-star finedining
restaurants,” says
Abdul. “There is a dizzying
array of options that are
accessible round the clock
for people to enjoy fussfree
food adventures, from
authentic Singaporean
breakfasts to late-night
suppers,” Abdul says.
Shop ‘til you drop
Singapore’s sophistication
makes it a unique retail
destination that offers
an immersive shopping
experience for even the
most discerning shopper
and boasts luxury, midrange
as well as budget
brands, says Abdul.
He says the most
modern malls can be
found along Orchard Road
and Marina Bay. The
2,2km-long Orchard Road
is touted as the shopping
hub of Singapore due to
its stretch of megamalls
and complexes such as
ION Orchard and Paragon,
which house enough
designer brands to satisfy
all shoppers. Smallerscale
neighbourhood malls
can be found in areas like
Tampines and Toa Payoh.
For shoppers who
seek a totally different
experience, Abdul says
the street stalls in Bugis
Street and Haji Lane
cannot be missed. The
stalls sell just about
everything travellers could
want – souvenirs, T-shirts,
CDs, jewellery, clothing,
shoes and other fashion
items.
Reasons to extend a stay
THOMPSONS Holidays has
seen a surge in demand
from clients wanting to
extend their holidays
in Singapore due to its
many cultural points of
interest, says Candice
Perry, marketing, media
relations and social media
co-ordinator. “Singapore
has mastered the art
of harmonising the old
and the new. From the
traditional design of the
National Gallery to the
modernism of the Marina
Bay Sands, this is one
facet to the country that
would appeal to even the
most naïve observer,” she
says.
Elisna Bergset,
brand ambassador of
Development Promotions,
has noticed the same
trend among clients and
expects it to continue for
some time.
Singapore, she says, is
home to multiple religions
and cultures. “Travellers
are automatically
immersed in the daily
dealings of its residents
and will get an insider’s
experience of what it is
like to live side by side
in harmony.” Elisna adds
that even the nightlife and
family-friendly attractions
are something of a cultural
experience.
The Singapore story
– from mangrove to
metropolis – is well told by
its museums, memorials
and architecture. “A visit
to our museums and
memorials will enhance a
traveller’s knowledge of
Singapore’s
transformation from
a fishing village to a
bustling cosmopolitan
city,” Abdul says.
“Singapore is uniquely
placed to deliver diverse
cultural experiences in
one destination. It is
one of few destinations
where you will see people
of different cultures
and regions living
harmoniously together
and celebrating the
multitude of different
festivals and religious
events, such as the Lunar
New Year, Hari Raya,
Deepavali and Christmas.”
Ready, set, action!
Singapore is a hive
of world-class action
and adrenalin-pumping
activities where you can
feed your appetite for
adventure, says Abdul.
“With a calendar of worldclass
sporting events,
amateur sports and
participation activities,
Singapore appeals
to travellers who are
interested in any type
of action, from watching
Formula 1 Grand Prix and
mixed martial art events,
to participating in bungy
jumping and zip-lining,”
he says.
Strictly business
Given its strategic position
at the confluence of
the east and the west,
Singapore has established
itself as an important
hub for global trade, says
Abdul. Its infrastructure,
security, political and
economic stability only
add to its global hub
status. Singapore has
won many top awards for
being the top meeting
and convention city in
Asia over the years. “This
is the place where great
minds converge, connect
and collaborate,” Abdul
comments.
Did you know?
Singapore offers an
efficient, reliable and
safe public transportation
system with its clean
taxis, buses and trains.
Other transport services,
such as Uber, Grab and
private hire vehicles are
also available and safe
to engage. Otherwise, it
is safe to walk and enjoy
the greenery and tidy
walkways and streets.
Tourism up
Singapore’s tourism receipts
and visitor arrivals for 2017
attained record highs for the
second time in two years.
Tourism receipts rose by 3,9%
to S$26,8bn (R236trn), due
primarily to growth in visitor
arrivals across all top 10
markets and more arrivals
from high-spending markets
such as China, South Korea,
US and the UK. Visitor arrivals
increased by 6,2% to 17.4m,
with 13 of the top 15 markets
showing growth.
Did you know?
Travellers transiting Changi
Airport can watch movies;
wander through the gardens
of cactus, sunflowers, orchids
or butterflies; try wood-block
printing; visit the science
centre; race down the world’s
tallest indoor slide; or enjoy
free foot massages. Those
in transit for five and a half
hours or more can take a
free two-hour sightseeing
tour of the city.
A travel agent’s tips
“Singapore Airlines is
a fantastic airline with
unbeatable, super-attentive
on-board service and both
economy- and business-class
cabins are spacious and
modern.
“Upon arrival at Changi
Airport, you are greeted with
an impeccably clean, well-run
terminal. There are also plenty
of information counters so that
travellers will not get lost.
“Changi Airport is one of the
most user-friendly airports I
have ever been to (and I have
been to around 58 countries!).
Signage tells you exactly how
many minutes you will take to
get from one terminal or gate
to another. And, if you are
connecting onwards to another
destination, Singapore Airlines
offers you a $40 (R460)
voucher – or $20 (R230) if you
have a one-way ticket – that
you can spend on perfume,
jewellery or alcohol.
“If you want to do some
shopping, there are lots of
shops to choose from in the
airport that sell stunning
watches, sunglasses and
more. There are also lots of
great restaurants. Changi
Airport also has an enchanting
butterfly garden inside – the
perfect place to spend some
of your time if you are in
transit!
“Travelling into Singapore’s
city centre takes about 40
minutes, depending on the
traffic. I stayed at the Royal
Hotel @ Queens. It is an
excellent hotel in a bustling
area and ideally located within
walking distance of Orchard
Road, a shopping addict’s
paradise that has just about
every brand under the sun!
“If you are looking
to immerse yourself in
Singapore’s culture, you must
visit Clarke Quay and take a
boat ride around the marina to
learn about the history of the
country. It is a very interesting
experience that lets you take
in some of the most scenic
views of Singapore. Another
must-see is Marina Bay, a
good spot for shopping and
taking in breath-taking views if
you go to the top of the Marina
Bay Sands.
“In fact, you have to go to
the Marina Bay Sands and
make sure you spend at least
three-quarters of your day
at Gardens by the Bay. The
nature park is a visual delight
with tons of flowers on display.
These flowers are changed
seasonally, so there are
different displays at different
times of the year.
“After a visit to the gardens,
I would recommend catching a
ride on the Singapore Flyer, a
giant Ferris wheel that lets you
see the city from atop. Then
visit the Merlion Park, one of
the biggest tourist attractions,
where you can shop at the
market, visit the theatre and
eat all sorts of delicious food,
including king crab.
“Just so you know, it is
totally safe to eat anywhere in
Singapore – the restaurants
are graded regularly to ensure
they meet health standards.
If you stay in Marina Bay until
night-time, you will be able to
catch the light show as well (it
is well worth it).
“You will need another full
day to visit Sentosa Island,
where you can use the hop-on,
hop-off bus to explore. Tickets
for the bus are available at
the main bus station and the
City Hall. There is lots to do on
the island – take a cable car
ride, laze on the beaches, visit
Universal Studios and SEA
Aquarium. A trip to Sentosa
Island is an excursion the
whole family is sure to enjoy.
“Other must-dos while in
Singapore include a visit to the
Singapore Zoo and the Mint
Museum of Toys. The worldclass
zoo is only a 45-minute
bus ride from the city centre.
You can buy tickets for the zoo
on the black line at the central
bus station. It is open during
the day and night. If you go
during the day, make sure you
get there early to avoid long
queues.
“The toy museum is a huge
highlight. You can spend
hours looking at the collection
of toys from the 1920s to
present. It is a wonder. Finish
off the excursion by strolling
two blocks down to the
famous Raffles Hotel for a
classic Singapore Sling. If you
are feeling up to it afterwards,
use the efficient underground
network to get to Orchard
Road and then catch the hopon,
hop-off bus to the Royal
Botanical Gardens to see the
exquisite orchids in full bloom.
There is even one dedicated to
Princess Diana.
“If you have more than
three days, take a trip to Little
India and spend some time
picking up bargains at the
renowned shopping centre,
Mustafas. You could also
visit the Chinese temples in
Little China or stroll around
the Sultan Mosque in Muscat
Street in the Kampong Glam
area.
“There are so many sights,
smells and sounds to explore
in Singapore, a city that has
a very special place in my
heart.
The ‘Jewel’ of Singapore
CHANGI Airport – a
destination and activity
hub in its own right –
is undergoing further
developments. The new
addition, Jewel Changi
Airport, is set to open in
2019.
The exciting new complex
will house a wide range
of unique and special
offerings for passengers
during layovers, including
aviation and travel-related
facilities as well as leisure
attractions built among lush
landscaping, says Cheng
Cheng Tay, spokesperson
for Changi Airport Group.
“This will be a world-class
lifestyle destination and a
game-changer for Changi
Airport.
“With the opening of
Jewel Changi Airport and
the completion of Changi’s
Terminal 1 expansion, which
includes an expanded arrival
hall, the airport will be able
to handle a capacity of
85 million passengers per
annum.”
Meanwhile, the Changi
East Development is
ongoing. This development
includes the implementation
of a three-runway system
at the airport as well as a
fifth terminal. “We expect
Terminal 5’s completion
to be around 2030. When
completed, the terminal will
have capacity for 50 million
passengers per annum and
help secure Changi Airport’s
position as a leading air
hub with sufficient capacity
to capture a share of the
projected growth in air traffic
in the region,” says Cheng
Cheng.
She adds that the airport
has seen stable growth
in passenger movements
and is now the world’s
sixth-busiest airport for
international traffic.
“Over the last few years,
Changi Airport has seen
an increase of over 11%
in the number of seats
available into Singapore
from across the world. The
increased capacity along
with the introduction of
more aircraft travelling into
the city and an improved
airline product make this
airport an attractive option,”
says Carlos Luis, supplier
relationship leader of Flight
Centre Travel Group.
The World in a Garden
OPENED mid-2012, Gardens
by the Bay continues to
evolve. The Gardens are
conserved and tended
by a team of specialists
ranging from horticulturists
to engineers and turf
management experts
to landscape designers
and orchid breeding
professionals that are
constantly enhancing the
offering.
Most recently, the Gardens
by the Bay’s Cloud Forest
has been enhanced with
additions including a
biannual changing orchid
display; and a showcase of
miniature orchids, so small
that their blooms have to
be viewed by magnifying
glasses.
This conservatory houses
more than 72 000 plants
and showcases the ecology
of cloud forests, such
as those found on misty
mountains in the tropics of
Asia, Africa, Australia and
the Americas. It also boasts
the world’s tallest indoor
waterfall that stands at 35m.
“Visitors should keep an
eye out for the fascinating
plants on the planted walls,”
says Hui Sin Wee, assistant
manager – sales and
marketing. “The mountain
is densely planted with
fascinating orchids, delicate
ferns, colourful bromeliads,
dazzling begonias and
carnivorous pitcher plants.
And do not miss the
breath-taking bird’s-eye
view of the mountain as
you descend through the
surreal, mist-filled Cloud
and Treetop Walks!”
The new Cloud Forest
Gallery and Cloud Forest
Theatre use multimedia
elements including graphics,
colourful dioramas, short
video clips and artefacts
to bring to light and explain
climate change. The exhibits
also show the harm caused
by humans and how people
can do their part to help.
The Cloud Forest is one
of more than 10 different
attractions within the
Gardens.
Other highlights include
the Flower Dome, which was
named the ‘World’s Largest
Glass Greenhouse’ in the
Guinness World Records
2015. “Here, tourists enter
the cool conditions of
subtropical Mediterranean
regions and explore diverse
plant life from five other
continents, which are
displayed in nine different
gardens,” explains Hui Sin.
“It is truly a botanical
journey with plants like
the baobab trees, the
Madagascar ghost tree
and the 1000-year-old olive
tree. With an abundance of
colours and fragrances, this
garden gloriously displays
the theme of ‘perpetual
spring’ with the Flower
Field – a botanical display of
vibrant plants and blooms,”
she says.
The park includes two
waterfront gardens – Bay
South Garden and Bay
East Garden. An additional
waterfront garden, Bay
Central Garden, is planned
as a linkage between the
other two gardens and will
feature a 3km waterfront
promenade.
“In the spectacular Cooled
Conservatories, visitors can
explore more than a million
plants from over 19 000
species from around the
world,” says Hui Sin.
Keep it personal!
SCENARIO: A three-day
trip to Singapore en-route
to Hong Kong. The solo
traveller wanted the
cheapest flights to Hong
Kong via Singapore, two
night’s accommodation in a
three- or four-star hotel in
Singapore with breakfast. As
the traveller had not visited
Singapore before and only
had three days to spend in
the destination, she wanted
guidance on the best tours
and excursions to explore
the cultural side of the
destination. No budget
was set. All agencies were
contacted via email from
their company websites on a
Monday afternoon.
Pentravel, Cavendish
I pulled the email address
of Lindsay de Swardt from
the agency’s website and
sent my request through.
Lindsay responded promptly,
requesting my phone number
so she could phone me to
discuss my options. As it
was late in the afternoon
and I did not respond
immediately, she sent an
email the next morning,
again requesting my contact
number along with some
recommendations for hotels
and tours. Lindsay also
sent through a thorough
information sheet on the
best things to do and see
in Singapore. After providing
my phone number, Lindsay
got hold of me over the
phone and I elaborated a
little on the initial request.
She came back with quotes
for flights on Singapore
Airlines and accommodation
at a centrally located threestar
hotel, with breakfast,
as well as streamlined
recommendations on
tours to take, which included
a Singapore City half-day tour
and sunset Sentosa Island
tour. She also checked that
my passport was valid and
assured me that I would
not need to apply for visas.
Lindsay asked me to let her
know when she could call
me to discuss the quotation
further and followed up
within a day when she had
not heard back from me.
Overall, her manner was
very pleasant, professional
and engaging. She was
clearly knowledgeable about
Singapore and seemed
genuinely excited for me to
experience it.
XL Bay Travel, Port Elizabeth
My request to XL Bay Travel
was diverted to an agent
who tried to call me on
the same day to discuss
my request, but as she
could not reach me, she
sent some options for
accommodation and tours
via email. Although I stated
in my initial request that
I was looking to have a
culture-focused experience
of Singapore, the tours
that she suggested
were touristy rather
than cultural. However,
her accommodation
recommendations were
extensive and each one
included breakfast. The
agent also specified what
size of budget each hotel
would fit as well as an idea
of how spacious the rooms
were. Although she offered
to send quotations through,
I said I would rather wait as
I was considering quotes
from another agent. I feel
that she could have sent
a quotation or two through
without additional feedback.
There was also no enquiry
about my passport.
Flight Centre, Randpark Ridge
My email request went
through to the websitegenerated
automatic
response from Flight
Centre, which was
followed up by a phone
call from one of the
agents. The agent was
very friendly on the
phone but had not visited
Singapore herself and was
not very knowledgeable
about the destination.
While she promised to put
together the best itinerary
possible, she did not
ask about my passport
and I did not receive a
quotation from her.
Lindsay’s top selling tips
Understanding your
clients’ personal wants
and needs is key to
creating a special
experience for them. Make
sure you understand these
to a T and personalise
their holiday accordingly.
You cannot assist your
client with making
informed decisions about
where to stay, or which
airline to fly on, if you
aren’t familiar with the
products. Make sure you
are knowledgeable about
all the products you are
suggesting so that you are
confident in selling them.
Be genuinely excited for
each and every client.
This will make them feel
special and keep them
coming back!
