S'pore to double tourists by 2015

S'pore to double tourists by 2015

SINGAPORE: Singapore announced plans on Tuesday to double
tourist arrivals and triple tourism revenues by 2015 despite
mounting competition from other countries for visitors from India
and China.

A S$2 billion (US$1.2 billion) tourism development fund has
been set aside by the government to support the goals, Minister
for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang told a briefing.

The city-state attracted a record high 8.3 million visitors in
2004 who spent S$9.6 billion ($5.8 billion).

Lim said Singapore is aiming to triple tourism revenues to
S$30 billion ($18.2 million), double arrivals to 17 million, and
create an additional 100,000 jobs in the services sector.-- DPA