singapore
Beyond
the obvious
The New Zealand travel
trade is being encouraged
to get clients ‘off the beaten
track’ in Singapore. Area
director Australia and New
Zealand with the Singapore
Tourism Board (Your
Singapore) Sharon Lam says
many New Zealanders have
been to Singapore over the
years and may think they
know about everything the
destination has to offer.
‘Our message is that so many things have
changed and there are new attractions that New
Zealanders will enjoy. We’re asking them to look
further than Orchard Road, Singapore Sling and
chilli crab – those things are great, but there is so
much more to see, do and enjoy.’
Examples include Gardens by the Bay, a
spectacular new attraction that includes
stunning art and architecture with botanical
delights. New Zealanders have shown immediate
interest in this, with a number of special interest
garden groups visiting.
Other news includes River Safari – the latest
offering at Wildlife Rivers (already famous for its
Night Safari and other zoological drawcards).
River Safari is a S$160 million attraction. It
includes the world’s largest panda exhibit as
well as the world’s largest freshwater aquarium.
With one of the globe’s largest collections
of freshwater fauna, the park features over
5000 animals, including 42 endangered
Gardens by the Bay… just five
minutes walk from Marina Bay
species. Ecosystems showcased are those of
the Mississippi, Congo, Nile, Ganges, Murray,
Mekong and Yangtze Rivers. Each has its own
attractions – for example the opportunity to get
close to beavers and paddlefish in the Mississippi
area; the world’s largest freshwater puffer fish in
the Congo region, and the giant salamander at
the Yangtze River.
The outdoor areas of Gardens by the Bay
are free to enter, though conservatories do
have an admission charge. The award winning
horticultural activity is open daily from 9am to
9pm. Spanning 101 hectares, it houses over
250,000 rare plants and is just a five minute walk
from Marina Bay.
Bay South, the largest waterfront garden, is
where visitors will find the much photographed
Supertrees – 16 storey tall vertical gardens that
collect rainwater, generate solar power and act
as venting ducts for the park’s conservatories. A
suspended 128-metre long walkway between
two Supertrees, the OBC Skyway, is ideal for a
walk at any hour and offers a bird’s eye view of
the Gardens and the Marina Bay urban area.
On business
While Singapore’s new and traditional
attractions are a drawcard for leisure travellers,
the city is also a much visited business hub
– in part because of its strategic position in
South East Asia (something that appeals to the
organisers of the travel exhibition ITB Asia as just
one example).
It is the fourth leading financial centre in the
world and the fifth busiest port. It is also the
number one meeting city and country in the
world according to the Union of International
Associations (UIA) 2012 global rankings.
Singapore – modern and
traditional meet
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