Singapore roars back after silence of SARS<\/p>\n
Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Singapore<\/p>\n
The masks are off in Singapore and the island-state is trying its
\nbest to get local residents and travelers back into its shops,
\nrestaurants and hotels after the damage done by Severe Acute
\nRespiratory Syndrome (SARS).<\/p>\n
One of the first countries affected by SARS, Singapore found
\nitself the subject of travel warnings from many of its major
\ntourist markets, including fellow members of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), such as Thailand, Malaysia and
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Tourist arrivals from May 27 to June 2 were 48,600, a decline
\nof 65 percent from the same period last year.<\/p>\n
Today, with the removal of Singapore from the list of SARS-
\naffected countries by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May
\n30, things are looking up.<\/p>\n
"Singaporeans are stepping out of their houses and visitors
\nhave also returned to the country to shop, eat, go to events and
\nexperience other activities that the country has to offer. This
\nis a positive sign," said Lim Neo Chian, deputy chairman of the
\nSingapore Tourism Board (STB).<\/p>\n
Last year, the local tourist sector, which contributes about 4
\npercent to the country's revenue and supports close to 108,000
\njobs, had about S$9billion (US$5.12 billion) in revenue. But the
\nSARS outbreak forced STB to revise down its revenue target for
\nthis year to between S$6 billion ($3.4 billion) and S$7 billion
\n($3.98 billion).<\/p>\n
As part of its global recovery program, the board has launched
\ncampaigns like "Step Out Singapore" to encourage Singaporeans to
\nresume their normal activities. For foreign travelers, there is a
\nsix-month-long program called "Singapore Roars", offering tourist
\npackages at up to 50 percent off normal prices, as well as the
\nGreat Singapore Sale, which ends on July 13.<\/p>\n
Lim said that a S$200 million recovery program, jointly funded
\nby the STB, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and
\nother tourist institutions, had been launched to support its
\ncampaigns, which are hoped to attract about 4 million visitors in
\nthe next semester with targeted tourism revenue of S$4 billion
\n($2.27 billion).<\/p>\n
"The figure dropped quite a lot in April and May because of
\nSARS but there are still a few more months to go. I believe that,
\nwith our intensive efforts and with the roaring deals that we
\nhave lined up for visitors from overseas, in the last six months
\nof the year we will do better than the previous semester," Lim
\nadded.<\/p>\n
When SARS hit, the government swiftly issued quarantine orders
\nand temporarily suspended school activities in an effort to
\ncontain the disease. It also implemented the "detect, isolate and
\ncontain" strategy, which included installing thermal imaging
\nscanners to detect visitors with SARS symptoms at the country's
\npoints of entry, as well as hotels, malls and other public
\nfacilities to curb the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n
Those with symptoms of SARS were referred to Tan Tock Seng
\nhospital, while the public in general were provided with
\ninformation and preventative measures.<\/p>\n
To assure the public and visitors, the Cool Award campaign,
\nwhich included daily temperature checks, was launched at public
\nfacilities like ports, hotels, restaurants and on the street.
\nThose who pass the health screening receive a "I'm cool" badge.<\/p>\n
Double cleaning frequencies were implemented for common
\nfacilities like railings, lift buttons and toilets.<\/p>\n
"The precautionary measures will continue forever or at least
\nuntil a cure is found. We are also working together with other
\nASEAN countries to ensure that we don't export or import SARS,"
\nsaid STB's regional director for Southeast Asia, Aloysius
\nArlando, during the launching of Singapore Roars in Jakarta
\nrecently.<\/p>\n
He estimated that it would take about two years for the
\ncountry to recover to its pre-SARS situation.<\/p>\n
"We are currently looking at the regional market, Malaysia,
\nIndonesia and other ASEAN countries as things return to normal.
\nWe believe that for the regional market, the pick up will be very
\nquick," Lim said.<\/p>\n
"(A)nd for Indonesia, we hope we will be able to maintain the
\ntarget of 1.392 million visitors," he said, referring to
\nSingapore's status as a favorite shopping, health care and
\nvacation destination for Indonesians.<\/p>\n
One Indonesian who has made his way back to Singapore is
\nJohanes, who was staying three days in the city with his family
\nbefore going to Thailand,<\/p>\n
"Every time I travel abroad I usually make a two or three-day
\nvisit to Singapore. My wife loves to shop here, especially during
\nsales like now, since prices are a lot cheaper than in Jakarta. I
\nlike to eat and try new restaurants .... There are always things
\nto do around here," he said.<\/p>\n
"At first we were uncertain about making this trip and we even
\nbrought along our masks, but it's reassuring to see that no one
\nis wearing a mask and to know that WHO has removed Singapore from
\nits SARS list," he said.<\/p>\n
This kind of sunny outlook is just what Singapore wants after
\nthe dark days of SARS.<\/p>",
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