More than just a stopover
SINGAPORE drew 15,6m
international visitors in
2013 alone, according
to the Singapore Tourism
Board. However, while it is a
popular stopover destination
for South African travellers,
the city is not yet viewed as
a standalone destination.
For South Africans,
Singapore Airlines offers
one of the few direct
services into the region,
bolstering Singapore’s
stopover and short-stay
status. The airline offers
regular airlift between SA
and Singapore, coupled with
excellent air connections
to the rest of Asia and
worldwide (Changi Airport is
used by over 100 airlines
flying to 300 cities).
Being a major gateway
to south-east Asia,
the city does feature
on the itineraries of
incentive groups, usually
in combination with
neighbouring countries.
Says Elmari Oberholzer,
incentive consultant at Wow
Incentives and Events in
Johannesburg: “We use
Singapore as a stopover
destination – usually two
nights – for incentive
groups, due to the good
connections offered by
Singapore Airlines to other
destinations such as Bali,
Vietnam and Borneo.
Singapore is also a popular
choice for trip extensions
for individual delegates who
wish to stay on for a few
extra days.”
However, the popular
stopover is not yet viewed
by South Africans as an
end destination. “Singapore
suffers the perception of not
having enough in the way of
attractions and activities to
warrant a full incentive or
leisure option on its own,”
says Gill Dewar, md of GCD
Consulting, adding that she
is not quoting much at the
moment for Singapore.
“However, we have had
corporate bookings in
the past – and I cannot
remember ever doing
a straight incentive in
Singapore only.”
Nonetheless, Gill believes
there is a lot to do within
the city itself. “Singapore
is a good option for
travellers to consider due
to direct flights, no visas,
a favourable exchange rate
and the variety of hotels
and products on offer. All
the new facilities on the
island and at Sentosa have
certainly opened up the
destination as well,” she
says.
The fact that English is the
language of business and
entry visas are not required
increases convenience.
Sally George, market
development manager for
Singapore Airlines in South
Africa, says South African
business people who work
with Singaporeans are
also attracted to their
positive work ethic and
proactivity
Biz opportunities .
ACCORDING to
International Enterprise
Singapore and the
Economic Development
Board, South Africans
are doing business in
Singapore in diversified
sectors such as services,
trading and food and
beverage.
Some of the more
notable SA companies
with a presence include
Dimension Data, Sasol
and Nando’s. SA business
travellers visiting the city
are involved in the fields
of finance, chemicals,
petroleum, iron and steel,
vegetables and fruit. They
also attend conferences
in the city state, with
medical gatherings being
popular.
Last year, workforce
management group,
Adcorp, announced its
intention to set up a
south-east Asian hub in
Singapore. The Financial
Mail quoted ce, Richard
Pike, as saying the
company had a two- to
three-year window to
establish a recruitment
business in a region that
would hold half the global
workforce in the next 30
years but in which the
world’s biggest players
had yet to gain a firm
foothold.
The choice of Singapore
was based on the
plethora of multinational
head offices in the city,
each with staffing needs,
as well as the city-state
being largely Englishspeaking
and holding
the world’s third-deepest
capital market.
However, tour operators
say accommodation and
costs of staying in the city
are pricey. Additionally,
Mohamed Firhan Abdul
Salam, area director,
Middle East & Africa for
the Singapore Tourism
Board (STB) based in
Dubai, says South African
representation at trade
shows is generally low,
put down to distance
from the market, but the
STB is keen to engage
travellers to take part
more often in these
events.
The ‘easiest place in the world to do business’ – World Bank
AS A business destination,
Singapore boasts numerous
accolades. The World
Economic Forum’s Global
Competitiveness Report for
2014/15 (which measures
productivity and prosperity)
ranks the city-state Asia’s
most competitive country
and the second most
competitive country in the
world. The World Bank
recently positioned the city
as the ‘world’s easiest place
to do business’ for the ninth
time (Doing Business 2015
Report), and The Economist
Intelligence Unit ranked
Singapore as having the
best Business Environment
in Asia Pacific (EIU Country
Forecast Report 2013).
One of the original Asian
Tigers, the city has a strong
reputation for business
friendliness – relatively
free of constraints and
corruption, with high
rankings from all the credit
rating agencies such as
Fitch, Moody’s and Standard
& Poor’s. Its infrastructure
is developed, its population
skilled and its network
readiness is ranked second
in the world by the World
Economic Forum.
Singapore is one of the
world’s leading financial
centres as well as a
major oil-refining centre
and logistics hub. The
economy is also dependent
on exports. The country’s
Economic Development
Board lists 19 leading
industries – among
them are aerospace
engineering; chemicals;
energy; electronics;
healthcare; marine and
offshore engineering;
pharmaceuticals and
biotechnology and precision
engineering. Emerging
sectors include the
automotive industry;
lifestyle products and
services; safety and
security and space.
Brush up on local customs
IT IS helpful for travellers to
bear in mind that Singapore
has a multi-ethnic population,
made up of Chinese, Indians
and Malays. You could be
greeted with a handshake, a
bow or a namaste with hands
together in prayer mode.
Singapore’s multicultural
traditions may require some
negotiating. Take names, for
example. The Chinese use
the surname first, followed
by one or two first names. It
is generally best to refer to
Chinese colleagues by the
honorific (Mr, Mrs, Ms) followed
by the surname. Malays will
use their first name followed
by the Arabic ‘bin’ or ‘bint’,
meaning son or daughter of,
followed by the father’s name.
It is generally acceptable to
use the honorific followed by
the first name in addressing
business people of Malaysian
descent.
Caution governs the
Singaporean style of doing
business and this may come
across as indecision to the
uninitiated. Reading between
the lines and attention to
non-verbal communication are
often required. Politeness and
calm should be observed at
all times. Visiting business
executives are advised to
show respect for chains of
command.
Appointments should
be made well in advance,
steering clear of the Chinese
New Year (end of January
to mid-February) when many
businesses close. Business
cards must be exchanged,
after initial introductions, using
both hands. On accepting a
business card, it should be
read before being put away.
If hosted for a meal, guests
should let the host order and
not eat until the host begins.
Dress for year-round hot
and humid tropical weather
and daily rain showers, which
can be heavy but are usually
brief. Casual business attire
is generally acceptable on
account of the weather.
Business etiquette should
be researched ahead of
meetings as this could make
the difference in concluding
a deal. For after-hours eating,
shopping and entertainment,
download the pocket guide
‘Enriching Your Singapore
Business Experience’ for tips in
10 city precincts.
How to get around
Compact Singapore – with an
area smaller than New York
City – is easy to get around.
The fastest transport system
is the MRT rail network. A
Singapore Tourist Pass will
allow unlimited travel for one
day for S$10 (R96), two days
for S$16 (R154) or three days
for S$20 (R192). The pass
can also be used on the city’s
bus system. Metered taxis can
be hailed at the roadside or at
taxi stands but it’s advisable
to check on surcharges before
getting in.
Diarise these dates!
The following are key
trade shows in Singapore
for 2016:
February 16-21: Singapore
Air Show, Changi Exhibition
Centre;
March 10-13: International
Furniture Fair Singapore,
Singapore Expo Convention
and Exhibition Centre;
April 12-15: Food and
Hotel Asia, Singapore
Expo Convention and
Exhibition Centre;
May 31-June 3:
BroadcastAsia and
CommuniAsia, Marina
Bay Sands.
Did you know?
Singapore Airlines offers daily flights between South Africa and
Singapore, four of them commencing in Cape Town and routed via
Johannesburg, and the balance starting in Johannesburg. The daily
service offers passengers flexibility and convenience. In business
class, the airline features a fully flat bed, facilitating a good night’s
sleep before arrival.
