Public invited to contribute ideas and shape the future of Singapore
Singapore, 12 Oct 2009 – The Singapore Tourism Board ( STB) is developing a new tourism roadmap called Tourism Compass 2020 and wants to know your vision for Singapore in 2020.
Tourism Compass 2020 will be an enhancement of Tourism 2015, a tourism blueprint launched in 2005 with a vision to become Asia’s leading MICE city, leisure destination, and services centre. It targeted to achieve S$30 billion in tourism receipts and 17 million visitor arrivals to Singapore by 2015.
Since then, the Singapore landscape has undergone a dynamic change in the last four years, and a dramatically different Singapore skyline will emerge over the next few years as tourism products such as the Integrated Resorts, the Gardens by the Bay project and the International Cruise Terminal come on stream.
Global events such as one of the worst economic slowdowns seen in years, and health scares like the H1N1 pandemic and avian flu, have also had a significant impact on the tourism landscape. Against this backdrop, STB believes that the development of this new roadmap is timely.
“Singapore as a destination has undergone a rapid transformation in the last few years. While the current environment may be challenging, we are upbeat about the long term prospects for growth in tourism. This is why we are developing Tourism Compass 2020 – to identify and capitalise on emerging opportunities afforded by new travel trends, so that we can further tourism’s contribution as a key driver of Singapore’s economy,” said Ms Aw Kah Peng, STB’s Chief Executive and co-chair of the Tourism Compass 2020 Steering Committee.
A shared vision of tourism in Singapore
STB has put together a Steering Committee that includes members of the Tourism Consultative Council ( TCC), who are leaders in the business and tourism sector. The Tourism Compass 2020 Steering Committee will provide strategic direction for future tourism development in Singapore.
Five Taskforces have also been set up to map out tourism strategies specifically pertaining to the areas of Business, Enrichment, Lifestyle, Marketing, and Travel and Hospitality. Each Taskforce is led jointly by STB and Tourism Consultative Council ( TCC) representatives, and is supported by members of various backgrounds from the private and public sectors who provide valuable insights and perspectives.
Adding a further dimension to this broad-based approach is STB’s call for ideas from members of the public, who may not be part of the industry but are equally passionate about shaping the future of Singapore tourism. They can contribute by sending in comments, suggestions, images and videos to the Tourism Compass 2020 website, http://www.tourismcompass2020.com, over the next four months.
Explaining this broad-based approach, Mr Gerald Lee, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of The Ascott Group Limited and also co-chair of the Tourism Compass 2020 Steering Committee, said, “This will provide us fresh perspectives and a 360-degree vantage point for a sustainable tourism roadmap. Tourism is not just for visitors; Singapore tourism belongs to residents too. By bringing members of the public into this discussion, we hope to include ideas and suggestions close to the hearts of people living in Singapore, Singaporeans based overseas, visitors who love Singapore – everyone. We want to evolve the destination into one that will excite and engage people in a personal and authentic way.”
From October 2009 to January 2010, the public can vote for the most creative ideas submitted via the Tourism Compass 2020 website. The top three contributors as voted by the public each month will go on to enjoy new and popular Singapore experiences at Resorts World Sentosa and Dempsey Hill. Their ideas may also be incorporated into the Tourism Compass 2020 roadmap.
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Refer to Annex A for details on the Tourism Compass 2020 Steering Committee and Taskforces.
Refer to Annex B for details on the Singapore Tourism Board’s Tourism Compass 2020 website.
Click here to download the Tourism Compass 2020 banner.
About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board ( STB) is a leading economic development agency in tourism, one of Singapore’s key service sectors. Known for partnership, innovation and excellence, the mission of the Board is to champion tourism and build it into a key economic driver for Singapore. STB aims to differentiate and market Singapore as a must-visit destination offering enriching experiences through the “Uniquely Singapore” brand. For more information, please visit www.stb.gov.sg.