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