Singapore roars back after silence of SARS

Singapore roars back after silence of SARS

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Singapore

The masks are off in Singapore and the island-state is trying its
best to get local residents and travelers back into its shops,
restaurants and hotels after the damage done by Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

One of the first countries affected by SARS, Singapore found
itself the subject of travel warnings from many of its major
tourist markets, including fellow members of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), such as Thailand, Malaysia and
Indonesia.

Tourist arrivals from May 27 to June 2 were 48,600, a decline
of 65 percent from the same period last year.

Today, with the removal of Singapore from the list of SARS-
affected countries by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May
30, things are looking up.

"Singaporeans are stepping out of their houses and visitors
have also returned to the country to shop, eat, go to events and
experience other activities that the country has to offer. This
is a positive sign," said Lim Neo Chian, deputy chairman of the
Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Last year, the local tourist sector, which contributes about 4
percent to the country's revenue and supports close to 108,000
jobs, had about S$9billion (US$5.12 billion) in revenue. But the
SARS outbreak forced STB to revise down its revenue target for
this year to between S$6 billion ($3.4 billion) and S$7 billion
($3.98 billion).

As part of its global recovery program, the board has launched
campaigns like "Step Out Singapore" to encourage Singaporeans to
resume their normal activities. For foreign travelers, there is a
six-month-long program called "Singapore Roars", offering tourist
packages at up to 50 percent off normal prices, as well as the
Great Singapore Sale, which ends on July 13.

Lim said that a S$200 million recovery program, jointly funded
by the STB, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and
other tourist institutions, had been launched to support its
campaigns, which are hoped to attract about 4 million visitors in
the next semester with targeted tourism revenue of S$4 billion
($2.27 billion).

"The figure dropped quite a lot in April and May because of
SARS but there are still a few more months to go. I believe that,
with our intensive efforts and with the roaring deals that we
have lined up for visitors from overseas, in the last six months
of the year we will do better than the previous semester," Lim
added.

When SARS hit, the government swiftly issued quarantine orders
and temporarily suspended school activities in an effort to
contain the disease. It also implemented the "detect, isolate and
contain" strategy, which included installing thermal imaging
scanners to detect visitors with SARS symptoms at the country's
points of entry, as well as hotels, malls and other public
facilities to curb the spread of the virus.

Those with symptoms of SARS were referred to Tan Tock Seng
hospital, while the public in general were provided with
information and preventative measures.

To assure the public and visitors, the Cool Award campaign,
which included daily temperature checks, was launched at public
facilities like ports, hotels, restaurants and on the street.
Those who pass the health screening receive a "I'm cool" badge.

Double cleaning frequencies were implemented for common
facilities like railings, lift buttons and toilets.

"The precautionary measures will continue forever or at least
until a cure is found. We are also working together with other
ASEAN countries to ensure that we don't export or import SARS,"
said STB's regional director for Southeast Asia, Aloysius
Arlando, during the launching of Singapore Roars in Jakarta
recently.

He estimated that it would take about two years for the
country to recover to its pre-SARS situation.

"We are currently looking at the regional market, Malaysia,
Indonesia and other ASEAN countries as things return to normal.
We believe that for the regional market, the pick up will be very
quick," Lim said.

"(A)nd for Indonesia, we hope we will be able to maintain the
target of 1.392 million visitors," he said, referring to
Singapore's status as a favorite shopping, health care and
vacation destination for Indonesians.

One Indonesian who has made his way back to Singapore is
Johanes, who was staying three days in the city with his family
before going to Thailand,

"Every time I travel abroad I usually make a two or three-day
visit to Singapore. My wife loves to shop here, especially during
sales like now, since prices are a lot cheaper than in Jakarta. I
like to eat and try new restaurants .... There are always things
to do around here," he said.

"At first we were uncertain about making this trip and we even
brought along our masks, but it's reassuring to see that no one
is wearing a mask and to know that WHO has removed Singapore from
its SARS list," he said.

This kind of sunny outlook is just what Singapore wants after
the dark days of SARS.