The Singapore Tourism Board has been urged to “seize the moment” and to “shout loudly” about the destination easing Covid restrictions.
Agents and operators attending an Aspire lunch and roundtable discussion held in partnership with the tourism board and Pan Pacific London, said highlighting “easy travel” was crucial in the current landscape.
John Sullivan, head of commercial at Advantage Travel Partnerships, said the tourism board should promote any easing of restrictions to encourage forward bookings.
He said: “Our members are reporting a lot of what I’m calling easy travel. Clients want to know they can get somewhere with as much ease as possible – that’s a big driver now.
“I’d encourage any destination that has made it easier for travellers to shout about that as much as possible – it’s only going to encourage interest in that destination.”
Singapore announced earlier this month that it was relaxing covid testing requirements for Brits travelling to the destination. Instead of taking a PCR test on arrival at the airport, fully vaccinated visitors entering via its quarantine-free Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) will instead be asked to take an antigen test within 24 hours of arrival.
Additionally, the current requirement for antigen tests to be taken after days two and seven will be removed for fully vaccinated arrivals on VTL flights.
Speaking at the event, Michael Rodriguez, are director for the tourist board, added that clients could even have the antigen tests in the comfort of their hotel rooms. “Its now as easy as it can be,” he said.
Natalie Stacey of Designer Travel and Nena Chaletzos, chief executive of Luxtripper, both said they’d like to see STB run campaigns in the consumer press to highlight how easy it is to travel to Singapore in light of the reduced testing requirements. Both highlighted the recent spike in interest for Australia and New Zealand following announces of reopening to international travellers.
Chaletzos added that Singapore’s popularity as a stopover destination means it also relies on other destinations opening up. “Bali and Singapore had always been big for us, so Singapore is more reliant on other destinations changing their restrictions and requirements too. Once that happens it’ll be a popular twin centre again”.
Carrie Kwik, executive director Europe for the tourist board, said: “We have taken and slow and cautious approach. It’s in the Singapore DNA; in everything we do to have high standards of safety and hygiene to protect both our tourism industry and our tourists.
“But we are taking more positive steps. We now have no quarantine and the testing regime relaxing.
“It’s becoming very similar to how it was here in London. We are a couple of steps behind but there is great intent to welcome everybody back.”