ASIA Travel Tips.com

(http://www.asiatraveltips.com)

Singapore visitor arrivals in September 2002 grew 0.6% over the same month in 2001, to a total of 597,115 visitors. Japan and USA experienced their first month of positive growth in visitor arrivals this year.

The 12 largest visitor-generating markets were:

Total Arrivals: 597,115 (+0.6%)

1. Indonesia 102,841 (+4.7%) 7. India 27,873 (+2.2%) 
2. Japan 77,841 (+11.4%) 8. USA 23,498 (+6.0%) 
3. Australia 52,286 (-2.9%) 9. South Korea 21,459 (-8.8%) 
4. Malaysia 48,142 (-10.6%) 10. Thailand 19,342 (-1.5%) 
5. P R China 47,212 (+37.3%) 11. Hong Kong 18,902 (-5.6%) 
6. UK 33,780 (+0.2%) 12. Philippines 13,606 (-6.5%)

Attractively priced airfares from Jakarta to Singapore and the increase in group travel (+62.0%) contributed to a 4.7% growth in visitor arrivals from Indonesia. Holiday traffic grew by 12.7%.

Visitor arrivals from Japan grew by 11.4%, contributed by the availability of promotional packages and publicity on Singapore. Repeat visitors and non-group travel package registered double-digit growth of 17.4% and 16.5% respectively. Holiday and business-related traffic also grew 8.7% and 9.1% respectively.

Malaysia's arrivals fell by 10.6%, mainly due to the drop in holiday traffic (-29.6%). Repeat visitors also dipped by 6.8%.

Aggressive group travel promotions led to a double-digit growth (+37.3%) in visitor arrivals from China. This resulted in a significant increase in group packaged tours (+47.0%) and holiday traffic (+52.0%).

UK registered a marginal growth of 0.2%, supported by an increase in business-related arrivals (+6.0%).

India's arrivals grew 2.2%, boosted by the strong increase in business-related arrivals (+20.0%). There was also a significant rise in FITs (+14.3%).

The overall decline in visitor arrivals from South Korea (-8.8%) was largely due to cautious consumer sentiments as a result of the poor performance of the stock market and the dismal economic outlook. Holiday traffic fell 8.5%.

The increase in visitor arrivals from USA (+6.0%) could be attributed to the low base last year. Holiday and business-related arrivals grew by 0.5% and 29.6% respectively.

Overall, holiday arrivals from the top 12 markets grew by 3.5 %. Growth was registered from China (+52.0%), Indonesia (+12.7%), Japan (+8.7%) and USA (+0.5%). Decreases were registered from Malaysia (-29.6%), Philippines (-11.6%), Hong Kong (-10.2%) and Australia (-9.3%).

Business-related* traffic experienced a 7.2% growth, largely contributed by the strong performances from USA (+29.6%), India (+20.0%), China (+17.6%), South Korea (+16.1%) and Japan (+9.1%). On the other hand, Malaysia (-2.4%) and Indonesia (-1.4%) were the only markets that registered decreases.

Hotel Sector Performance in September 2002

Maximum room-nights: 922,500 (+1.0%); Available room-nights: 858,858 (0.0%)

Gross lettings: 625,365 (-2.1%); Paid lettings: 614,759 (-2.1%)

Standard AOR: 72.8% (down 1.6 percentage points over September 2001)

Standard ARR: $124.1 (-5.9%)

Visitor Arrivals in January - September 2002

Visitor arrivals in the first nine months of 2002 dropped by 2.1% over the same period in 2001, to a total of 5,629,434 visitors. However, visitor arrivals from Indonesia, China, South Korea and India registered increases.

The 12 largest visitor-generating markets were:

Total Arrivals: 5,629,434 (-2.1%)

1. Indonesia 973,197 (+0.8%) 7. South Korea 288,846 (+3.9%) 
2. Japan 550,223 (-14.6%) 8. India 276,290 (+5.5%) 
3. P R China 497,286 (+36.0%) 9. USA 247,974 (-9.0%) 
4. Australia 414,107 (-1.5%) 10. Hong Kong 207,564 (-3.9%) 
5. Malaysia 398,445 (-8.2%) 11. Thailand 197,179 (-0.1%) 
6. UK 339,957 (-1.4%) 12. Taiwan 168,794 (-3.5%)

Holiday arrivals from the top 12 markets registered a flat growth (0.0%). Markets that grew were China (+42.5%), India (+18.4%) Indonesia (+3.4%), South Korea (+2.3%) and Thailand (+0.5%). Conversely, Japan (-18.7%), USA (-18.4%), Malaysia (-13.8%) and Australia (-4.5%) posted declines in this segment.

Business-related traffic fell 3.5%, caused primarily by the drop in business-related traffic from Hong Kong (-11.7%), Malaysia (-10.3%), Japan (-8.2%) and UK (-6.4%). Markets that registered growth were China (+15.0%), South Korea (+6.5%), Indonesia (+1.1%) and Thailand (+0.5%).

Hotel Sector Performance in January - September 2002

Maximum room-nights: 8,385,232 (+1.1%); Available room-nights: 7,843,783 (+0.3%)

Gross lettings: 5,835,228 (-3.9%); Paid lettings: 5,743,897 (-4.0%)

Standard AOR: 74.4% (down 3.3 percentage points over January - September 2001)

Standard ARR: $126.9 (-5.9%)

*Business-related segment includes Business, Business & Pleasure and MICE arrivals.

AOR = Average Occupancy Rate 
ARR = Average Room Rate
Note : Figures for the Hotel Sector Performance is updated as at 15 Oct 2002