SINGAPORE Airlines’ discounted stopover packages helped contribute to a 12% increase in visitors from the UK to Singapore during the first quarter of this year.
The country had a particularly strong March when UK visitor arrivals totalled 40,000, an increase of 17% over March 1998. The UK was Singapore’s third largest market for the month.
Singapore Tourism Board’s UK regional director Aaron Hung said:”More and more visitors are including Singapore as part of a holiday to other Far East destinations, Australia and New Zealand. In fact, Singapore is the preferred stopover for UK visitors to Australia, particularly because of the convenience of Singapore and the frequency, as well as capacity of flights it offers.”
Singapore Airlines’ New Singapore Stopover holiday package launched in February offers accommodation from £18 a night, free entry to the destination’s six most popular attractions, plus discounts on shopping, dining and sightseeing.
Hung said this special offer – together with the strength of sterling and the continuing popularity of the Far East – had stimulated demand for Singapore this year.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines is still waiting to hear whether its £208m bid for News Limited’s 50% share of Australian carrier Ansett has been successful.