More seats from South Africa!
EFFECTIVE March 31,
Singapore Airlines
is permanently
increasing capacity on the
Johannesburg-Singapore
route, with three additional
flights on Wednesdays,
Fridays and Sundays.
SQ481 will depart from
Johannesburg at 22h30,
arriving in Singapore
at 14h55 the next day.
Flight SQ482 departs
from Singapore at 16h35,
arriving in Johannesburg at
21h10.
SQ479 and SQ478,
the airline’s existing
Johannesburg flights, will
continue to fly onward to
Cape Town daily.
Sally George, market
development manager for
Singapore Airlines, says the
airline conducted a trial run
of the new flights during
July and August last year.
They proved so successful
that the decision was made
to introduce them on a
permanent basis.
Sally said Singapore’s
existing daily flight
departed from OR Tambo at
13h45 and the new flight’s
later departure, at 22h30,
was attracting a new
market of both leisure and
corporate clients.
She said the later
departure time of the new
flights allowed travellers to
leave for the airport after
completing a full day of
work.
“Corporate travellers
can go straight from the
office to the airport for the
evening flight departure.
The airport is also much
quieter at this time of night
enabling clients to spend
less time in queues.
“Likewise, the return
flight from Singapore to
Johannesburg leaves
at 16h35 allowing both
leisure and corporate
clients to spend a full day
in Singapore before their
departure. As the flight
lands in Johannesburg at
21h00 on the same day
they do not have to take an
additional day of leave here
either.”
Sally also pointed out that
the new flight times did not
require passengers to book
early or late check-in or
check-out at hotels.
Ryan Crawford, senior
travel consultant at Pure
Sport hoped that the
additional capacity would
bring down prices.
He added that the new
route would not only benefit
South Africans travelling
to Singapore but also to
onward destinations.
Lucinda May, travel
adviser at Travkor Sure
Travel, said Singapore was
a wonderful hub and that
additional capacity was
always good for the market,
particularly with the current
popularity of southeast
Asian destinations such
as Vietnam, Thailand and
Cambodia.
“The airline needs
to ensure that its fare
and rule structures are
brought in line with the
Middle Eastern carriers to
successfully compete with
them,” added Lucinda.
Hi-tech cruise terminal
THE southeast Asian
region expects to see
4,5m cruise passengers
annually by 2035.
Singapore is achieving
significant growth in this
segment, having invested
heavily in cruise terminals
over the last few years.
Small and medium-sized
ships currently dock at
the Harbourfront on the
western end of the city,
and larger cruise ships
berth at the newer Marina
Bay Cruise Centre (MBCC)
which opened in 2012.
This centre reported 51%
growth in passengers
handled last year.
MBCC is also building a
Smart Terminal solution
where 460 cameras
will be installed in key
locations (such as checkin and baggage-handling
areas), leveraging hightech data science, video
analytics and predictive
artificial intelligence to
enhance operations and
security and alleviate
congestion.
Lionel Wong, ceo
of MBCC, says the
significant growth in
cruise travel is expected
to continue. “Augmenting
our processes with
technology will help us
manage the increased
volume efficiently and
provide a pleasant,
seamless travel
experience for our
passengers.”
Thaybz Khan,
contemporary brand
manager of Cruises
International, says
the cruise operator
has definitely seen an
increase in South African
cruise passengers to
the East. “Singapore is
a key stop in this region
with many of our cruises
beginning and ending
there.”
She says the region
is particularly attractive
for South African
cruise clients, due
to a combination of
reasonable cruise fares
and visa-free itineraries.
“All the cruise lines in our
portfolio call at Singapore,
with Royal Caribbean
and Celebrity stopping
there more frequently
than others. We find that
three-, four-, five- and
seven-night itineraries
with stops in Malaysia,
Thailand and Singapore,
are most popular with SA
clients.”
Janine Pretorius,
director of Encore
Cruises, which represents
Regent Seven Seas
in SA, says Far East
departures have become
more popular with local
travellers, with most
originating out of either
Singapore or Hong Kong.
The MICE are coming
SINGAPORE receives over 2,4m
travellers engaged in business
travel, meetings, incentives,
conventions and exhibitions every
year, generating over SGD4,3bn
(R44,8bn) in tourism receipts.
Jing Ting Lee, management
associate, planning and emerging
markets from the Singapore
Tourism Board, told TNW that event
organisers could choose from over
1 000 venues, unique spaces and
green venues in Singapore. Jing
says the city is an attractive MICE
destination due to its commitment
to digital security, its great transport
infrastructure and its status as one
of the safest cities in the world.
Singapore has over 67 000
rooms in 420 hotels, ranging from
no-frills to luxury accommodation
options. It also has one of the most
extensive networks of free trade
agreements in Asia. Technologywise, its next-generation broadband
already reaches 99% of homes
and businesses in Singapore with
connectivity at 27,6 Tbps.
In addition to the optimal air
connectivity afforded by Singapore
Airlines and Changi Airport as its
hub, the country also boasts mass
rapid transport subway and bus
systems with about 26 000 official
taxis and more than 400 000
rental cars.
The Marina Bay Sands Expo and
Convention Centre, the Suntec
Singapore Convention and Exhibition
Centre and the Singapore EXPO with
its MAX Atria wing, are suitable for
large-scale international exhibitions
and conferences. Huone Singapore,
ArtScience Museum, Gardens
by the Bay, Marina Bay Cruise
Centre Singapore, Night Safari,
Royal Albatross, S.E.A. Aquarium,
Singapore Flyer and the Singapore
Sports Hub are unique destinations
that can be hired out for MICE
events, says Singapore Tourism
Board.
MICE get the Advantage
The Singapore Tourism Board is
intent on promoting MICE tourism
to the city-state. Running until
December 31, the Singapore
MICE Advantage Programme
offers a number of value-adds
such as marketing and financial
assistance from the Singapore
Exhibition and Convention Bureau, a
complimentary welcome desk in the
Changi Airport arrivals hall for MICE
bookings, SGD20 (R208) Changi
Shopping Vouchers per delegate
and up to five complimentary oneway quayside services. Singapore
Airlines also offers special on-board
announcements for groups of
more than 50 passengers, and
discounted rates and additional
checked baggage for groups.
Rugby Sevens, GP, wins for MICE
The Singapore Grand Prix and Rugby
Sevens are particularly popular
for SA incentive bookings, and
Singapore Airlines’ Sally George
says the airline has noted a pick-up
of travel for these sporting events.
Ryan Crawford, senior travel
consultant at Pure Sport, says the
Singapore Grand Prix is a favourite
as the night event opens up the
days in Singapore for sightseeing.
He says, in addition to the races,
Singapore hosts a number of worldclass music concerts during the
event, which add to the excitement.
He adds that, as the Grand Prix
is a street race, it is easy to book
hotels overlooking, or within walking
distance of the race track, reducing
the need to transport guests to the
event. Companies really wanting to
spoil their incentive winners could
book VIP tickets, air-conditioned
suites with private balconies
overlooking the race and even
arrange boat transfers from Marina
Bay directly to the hospitality suites.
Ryan says this year the Singapore
Grand Prix would be combinable
with the Rugby World Cup in Japan
for a real sports-travel indulgence
trip. He says the Rugby Sevens
(which always takes place over a
weekend) is attractive to South
Africans because of the fast-paced
20-minute games, the dress-up
costumes and atmosphere of
“jolling”.
Sentosa – island of fun
FOR clients looking to get away from
the city, Sentosa Island, just across
from HarbourFront, is dedicated to
fun. The island is easily accessible
by boardwalk, cable car or monorail
and offers three pristine beaches,
spa retreats, resort accommodation,
golf courses and a yachting marina
in addition to a plethora of leisure
activities.
Sentosa Island is famously home
to Universal Studios Singapore, which
offers cutting-edge rides, shows and
attractions themed around blockbuster
films and series. These include
Battlestar Galactica, Transformers,
Jurassic Park, Sesame Street and Puss
in Boots. Guests can also meet famous
characters such as Marilyn Monroe,
the Minions, Elmo, Shrek and Princess
Fiona.
S.E.A. Aquarium on the island
features more than 100 000 marine
animals.
Drift away the day on a lazy river
or enjoy high-speed water slides at
Adventure Cove Waterpark. Guests
can also snorkel with 20 000 fish,
wade among rays and come face to
face with sharks.
The Maritime Experiential Museum
and the Royal Albatross – a four-mast,
22-sail ship – will transport your
clients back to the glory of the Silk
Route days.
The island is also home to Madame
Tussaud’s Singapore, which offers
guests a chance to ‘meet’ their
favourite celebrity hero wax figures.
The attraction is uniquely tailored
to reflect the culture of southeast
Asia, featuring both local and global
figures.
Asia’s first Marvel 4D Cinema allows
guests to be transported straight into
the heart of an action-packed, multisensory experience.
Wings of Time is the only permanent
night show in the world set in the
open sea. Guests can enjoy a
storyline woven together with an
experiential fusion of multimedia
effects including 3D projection
mapping, state-of-the-art lasers,
robotic water fountains, pyrotechnics
and giant water jets.
AJ Hackett Sentosa is Singapore’s
only bungy tower, which stands 50m
above the ground on Siloso Beach.
There is also a 40m Skybridge with a
spectacular sundowner deck.
The iFly Singpapore is the world’s
largest themed wind tunnel for indoor
skydiving which is five metres wide
and just over 17m long. Its acrylic
glass wall also lets participants enjoy
views of the South China Sea.
Mega Adventure offers ziplining
tracks, treetop rope navigation
courses, climbing walls, trampolines
and simulated parachute landings.
Sentosa 4D Adventureland offers
a number of interactive rides while
Wave House Sentosa is home to a
7 650-sqm wave surfing attraction.
The island also features Southeast
Asia’s first luge trails.
There is also a Butterfly and Insect
Kingdom, a dolphin programme and
bird and animal encounters offered in
the Palawan Amphitheatre.
Guests can pick up a Heritage Map to
explore the natural beauty of the island
on foot or by Segway or bicycle. There
are over 30 conserved heritage trees
and buildings on the island, including
Fort Siloso, the only preserved coastal
fort in Singapore.
Families should also make a point
of visiting the 7 525 sqm KidZania.
It offers children real-life experiences
through role-play activities. Children
can learn to pilot an aircraft, perform
surgery or whip up meals as a chef.
Did you know?
Jing Ting Lee of the Singapore Tourism Board, says there are always new attractions
popping up in Singapore. She suggests Design Orchard, showcasing authentic Singapore
brands and home-grown designer wares and also recommends the Sungei Buloh
Wetland Reserve for migratory bird watching. One of her favourite spots is the Marina
Bay area. “Here you can discover Singapore’s history, have a stunning view of the CBD
and explore Gardens by the Bay. As the Singapore Bicentennial in 2019 marks the
200th anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles’ arrival in Singapore, this area will be bustling
with activities and exhibitions throughout the year.
A HERITAGE OF DIVERSITY
Singapore is famous
as the melting pot of
diversity, with its culture,
history and cuisine springing
from the ethnic influences
of its Chinese, Malay, Indian,
Eurasian and Peranakan
heritage.
A walk through the streets,
where aromatic scents
emanate from street food
stalls and worshippers
flock peacefully to adjacent
temples, churches and
mosques, will confirm that
this is the meeting point of
many cultures.
There are guided walking
tours that focus on the Feng
Shui elements of the city’s
design. Guests can visit
Kampong Glam dotted with
golden-domed mosques,
perfumeries, kebaya and
carpet stores, where they will
learn about the pre-colonial
Malay Sultan leaders who
ruled Singapore as a part
of their trading routes. Your
clients will enjoy following
the aroma of spices to Little
India, visiting the ornate
temples decorated with
Hindu deities and marvelling
at the colourful flower
garlands woven and sold
from roadside pushcarts.
From the Neo-gothic
spire of St Andrew’s
Cathedral to the
Thian Hock Keng
Temple, where
early Chinese
immigrants
would come
to give thanks
to the Goddess
of the Sea for safe
passage, the vast
architectural contrasts add to
the charm of this vibrant city.
In this great destination for
festivals, Singaporeans are
united in their celebration of
Chinese New Year, Deepavali,
Hari Raya Puasa and
Christmas.
For the foodies
Singapore’s cuisine is
illustrious and famous.
Chicken Rice can be found
in both humble street
hawker centres and high-end
restaurants. The southern
Chinese recipe has evolved
into a dish of rice cooked in
chicken stock with ginger
and pandan leaves served
with succulent chicken and a
ground green chilli dip. Tian
Tian’s Hainanese Chicken
Rice at Maxwell Food Centre
in Chinatown famously
defeated Gordan Ramsay in a
cooking competition. This is
a great spot to sample one of
Singapore’s iconic dishes.
Other recommended dishes
include Chilli Crab served
with a tangy gravy and
steamed buns to sop up the
sauce; Fish Head Curry, Fried
Carrot Cake; Hokkien Prawn
Mee; sweet and crunchy Kaya
Toast; the spicy coconut
Laksa noodles; South Indian
style Roti Prata flat breads
and Rojak, a salad of mixed
fruits, vegetables and dough
fritters.
One of the best stores selling
Nasi Lemak – a fragrant
rice dish cooked in coconut
milk and pandan leaves and
accompanied with an array
of side dishes like omelettes
and fried fish – can
be found in the
Adam Road
Food Centre.
Candlenut,
a Michelinstarred
restaurant,
serves some
of the best
Peranakan
cuisine – a
culture of mixed
Chinese and Malay
heritage.
Five of the world’s top 50
bars are also in Singapore.
For MICE
Singapore is also a great
destination for MICE clients,
offering great air connectivity,
a fast and efficient public
transport system, low crime
and a myriad of venues.
The destination offers
inspiring social spaces for
MICE events such as the
S.E.A. Aquarium, the Tanjong
Beach Club, Clifford Pier,
1-Altitude - the highest
alfresco rooftop bar in the
world, the Flower Field Hall in
Gardens by the Bay and the
bustling nightlife along the
Singapore River.
Extraordinary experiences
are on offer, such as sunset
cruises along Marina
Bay, jungle breakfasts at
the zoo, skydiving in the
world’s largest wind tunnel,
champagne flights on
the Singapore Flyer and
embarking on a Universal
Studios Singapore Scavenger
Hunt.
World-class sporting events
are held in Singapore. These
include the HSBC Women’s
World Championship golf
tournament, the HSBC
Singapore Rugby Sevens
and, of course, the Singapore
Grand Prix.
Out of the city
If your clients would like to
get out of the city, Bintan
Island is an hour’s ferry trip
from Singapore and offers
visa-free entry to South
Africans. There is a range of
accommodation options so
guests can enjoy the island’s
clear waters and sandy
beaches. These range from
safari tents to cabanas, resort
hotels and luxury villas. The
island is well-known as a
great destination for golfers
with courses designed by
Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus,
Ian Baker Finch and Greg
Norman. Day activities
include mangrove tours, quad
biking, horse riding, Segway
tours, putt-putt, boat trips
and traditional Indonesian
spas.
For more information on
Singapore, check out their
travel agents guide at https://
tih.stb.gov.sg/content/tih/en/
marketing-and-media-assets/
guide-for-travel-agent.html
Serene Garden opens
Serene Garden, a newly opened space at Gardens by the Bay is a calm and
peaceful green space that took three years to conceptualise and build. The
two-hectare outdoor garden gives scenic views of the city’s skyline and
was inspired by the minimalist concept of Japanese Zen gardens. A water
feature lies at the heart of Serene Garden framed by Bismarkia palms. The
garden features a collection of rocks in three different colours. The 160 red
and blue rocks were handpicked by the team and brought in from Nioydo in
Japan, while some of the grey rocks hail from the Bukit Timah granite quarry.
Juniper trees have been carefully pruned by specialists to look like bonsai
trees. Bamboo is planted along the garden’s periphery.
Unique venues for hire at Gardens by the Bay
GARDENS by the Bay venues
are available for hire for private
functions.
Flower Field Hall – Set within the
colourful gardens of the Flower
Dome with spectacular views of
the Marina Bay waterfront.
Waterview Room – Featuring
superb views of the Marina Bay
waterfront and Bay East Garden.
Silver Leaf – Located under the
canopy of silver-hued Supertrees,
overlooking Dragonfly Lake.
The Meadow – Singapore’s largest
outdoor garden venue; perfect for
concerts and mega events.
Secret Life of Trees – A smaller
area for intimate events with views
of Supertree Grove.
OCBC Skyway – An aerial walkway
22 metres above ground across
Supertree Grove.
Eat Singapore
SINGAPORE is one of the few countries
in the world where visitors can have
peace of mind enjoying the wide variety
of multi-cultural and inexpensive street
food.
“The hawker food is safe to eat and
you can start by trying delicious local
dishes at places like Lau Pa Sat, the
Newton Food Centre and Satay by the
Bay,” says Jing. She says there are
also many air-conditioned hawker stalls
if one wants to escape the tropical
humidity and suggests Wild Market.
Singapore Tourism Board says
there are around 6 750 eating
establishments in the city offering a
wide range of dishes influenced by
Singapore’s many cultures.
The Michelin Guide Singapore
features 29 top dining venues,
including two of the world’s cheapest
Michelin-starred hawker stalls – Hong
Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and
Noodle and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork
Noodle.
Ryan Crawford of Pure Sport says:
“I ate in the markets with the locals
rather than eating in the expensive
upmarket restaurants. The food was
delicious.”
Did you know?
Edelene Tan Siang Ting, admin (sales and marketing) for Gardens by the Bay, says it offers a
wide array of dining options from café delights to hawker fare and fine dining. She says the
revamped Supertree Dining Area will reopen in April with several brand-new dining options.
Sensational stopovers
SINGAPORE Airlines’ stopover
programme is an evergreen favourite
with South Africans, due to the city’s
status as a visa-free destination and
its location as a hub en route to
popular southeast Asian destinations
such as Thailand, Bali, north Asia and
Australia.
Effective April 1, a number of
amendments have been made to the
airline’s Singapore Stopover Holiday
programme.
Due to low usage, transport on the
SIA Hop-on bus has been removed
from the programme but a new
one-time admission on the popular
Night City Tour in an open bus has
been added. A one-way airport-hotel
transfer has been reintroduced to the
programme.
The attraction mix has also been
reviewed with the overall value of the
programme increasing from SGD500
(R5 200) to SGD800 (R8 320). These
include S.E.A. Aquarium, Jurong Bird
Park, Night Safari, Wings of Time
as well as new meal and breakfast
options at Komala Vilas restaurant.
The airline’s Sally George says the
stopover rates really are competitive
and that the ongoing popularity of
the stopover programme is also
attributable to the additional value it
includes, which clients are not able
to take advantage of when booking
online. The stopover rates are also
commissionable to travel agents
at 10%.
Lucinda May from Travkor Sure Travel
agrees that the Singapore Stopover
programme offers wonderful value for
money for South Africans and says it
is very easy to book in the GDS.
Lizette Minny, director of
Trendsetters Travel, says the
destination is popular as a twonight stopover to break up the long
journey to Australia and New Zealand,
particularly as South Africans don’t
need a visa. “During a stopover the
kids love spending a day at Sentosa
Island and visiting Universal Studios.
We also generally send them on city
tours and we recommend the boat
trips on Singapore River as a lovely
group experience.”
Exceptional Changi
CHANGI Airport is well known as
an exceptional facility, boasting a
rooftop swimming pool overlooking
the runway and eight indoor and
outdoor gardens, including the
Sunflower and Orchid Gardens.
There are 1 000 butterflies in
the butterfly garden, the first in
an airport.
There are 400 retail stores
and 140 food and beverage
outlets, free airport WiFi and 550
free Internet kiosks across all
terminals. More than 3 400 USB
ports and universal power sockets
allow visitors to recharge their
mobile devices.
Pay-per-use lounges with gyms,
showers, hair stylists and spa
treatments are also affordable and
popular with transiting passengers.
There are free foot massage
machines and napping areas, a
24-hour movie theatre, and LAN
gaming stations, Playstation, Xbox
and Kinect gaming consoles. Cosy
music corners and TV lounges are
other ways to pass the time.
Tours for transit pax
The Singapore Tourism Board offers
free two-and-a-half-hour city tours for
passengers with a layover of more
than five hours, with a choice of a
Heritage Tour and a City Sights Tour.
The Heritage Tour visits historic
monuments like the city hall in
the colonial district, the modern
skyscrapers in the financial
district and Lau Pa Say, home to
a variety of delicious Singaporean
food-hawker stalls and rooftop
bars. It also stops at the famous
Merlion Statue at the mouth of
the Singapore River, the bustling
Chinatown market, colourful
Little India and passes the iconic
golden domes of the Sultan
Mosque in the Malay-Arab district
of Kampong Glam.
The City Sights Tour takes in the
Singapore Flyer and the Merlion,
Marina Bay Sands, the spiky glass
façade of the Esplanade and the
Gardens by the Bay with more
than 500 000 plants from over
2 200 species, and 18 Avatar-like
man-made Supertrees.
Changi Reward Voucher
Passengers travelling on Singapore
Airlines and Silk Air, who are
transiting for less than 24 hours in
Changi Airport on both legs of their
journey, may qualify for a Changi
Transit Reward voucher valued at
SGD20 (R208) for shopping in the
airport.
Passengers can only collect the
transit reward once, on either leg of
their journey, regardless of whether
it was issued over two or more
separate e-tickets. The transit reward
is valid for use until April 30 .
Eligible passengers can collect
vouchers from the iShopChangi
Collection Centres, which are open
24 hours daily in the transit areas of
Terminals Two and Three. They will
have to present passport, boarding
pass and e-tickets showing their full
itinerary.
