Singapore aims to attract more visitors

Singapore is aiming to attract 10.2 million visitors this year, up five per cent from the record 9.7 million seen in 2006, the city-state's tourism board said.

The arrivals are expected to generate revenues of 13.6 billion Singapore dollars (8.9 billion US), up 10 per cent from the previous year, the board said in a statement received last Saturday.

"These aggressive targets are testimony of our confidence that the strong tourism performance could be sustained," the statement quoted Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang as saying.

Lim said the board is "building a pipeline of tourism projects that will capitalise on the heightened interest in Singapore as a tourism destination", following the awarding of licenses to build two integrated casino resorts.

Tourism authorities will step up efforts to increase the number of travellers from emerging markets such as the Middle East and Russia, Lim said.

Singapore's tourism board said it would open an office in Moscow in the first half of this year as part of its efforts to expand its global presence.

The small but wealthy tropical city-state believes the two massive integrated gaming resorts will help boost travel arrivals.

Las Vegas Sands on Thursday started construction of the first development, called Marina Bay Sands, with an emphasis on convention facilities near the central business district.

The 3.2 billion US dollar complex is expected to open in 2009.

Genting International, part of Malaysian gaming conglomerate Genting Group, and sister company Star Cruises will build the second casino on Sentosa island.

Resorts World at Sentosa, expected to cost 3.4 billion US dollars, will feature Asia's first Universal Studios theme park outside of Japan and six hotels offering more than 1,800 rooms.