Singapore opens new Visitors Centre on Orchard Road

Visitors to Singapore's premier tourist shopping belt in Orchard Road will be able to browse for information and shop for other tourism-related services at a new Singapore Visitors Centre (SVC).

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) runs and manages the new SVC located at the junction of Cairnhill and Orchard Road.

This SVC @ Orchard which provides a host of new information and travel services, replaces the visitor centre at Tourism Court. Visitors can now make tour and hotel bookings, as well as purchase tickets to events and attractions in addition to having access to information on the island's tourism attractions.

Besides offering face-to-face services, the SVC @ Orchard also provides a cosy lounge area for visitors who prefer to do their own research and planning. Visitors will find a wide variety of brochures and poster panels, banners and videos highlighting key events and new tourism products. There will also be internet access for visitors to surf for tourism-related information on Singapore, as well as a feedback channel for them to share their views.

The SVC @ Orchard, which is presently housed in a temporary modular structure, will give way to a permanent structure, targetted for completion by the end of 2005. The new visitor centre will provide an invaluable channel for STB to gather input as well as research on the needs of visitors before deciding on the final design of the permanent structure.

Mr Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of STB, said; "The move of the centre from Tourism Court to Orchard Road is vital to the Board's plan to enhance visitors' experience in Singapore by making information readily available and easily accessible. In addition, the STB-run centre will provide opportunities for direct interface with visitors in a strategic location with strong visitor traffic. This will enable STB to feel the pulse of the visitors and better service their varying needs."

Supporting the STB-run SVC @ Orchard, are three other privately-operated SVCs at Suntec City, Liang Court and Plaza Singapura. The Board said it will continue to support other interested parties in the private sector to set up SVCs in other high tourist-traffic locations.

"STB also hopes to use the centre as a platform to gather invaluable feedback and in the process, launch new products and services. We hope to exchange best practices with the private sector, especially with other operators of privately-run SVCs. The collaboration between the public and private sectors will enable us to work towards elevating and redefining the service standards of the tourism industry as a whole," added Mr Lim.

Positioned as more than just an information centre, the centre will also include video presentations and live demonstrations that showcase events, festivals and attractions. Through out the year, visitors will also be treated to demonstrations on ethnic customs and traditions like henna painting and calligraphy, leading up to festivals like Deepavali, Hari Raya and Chinese New Year.

In addition, tourists can take home memories of their visit by having their digital pictures interspersed with video footage of attractions they have visited, downloaded onto a CD-ROM at the centre. Panasonic Pte Ltd, which has come up with this novel souvenir, also loans digital cameras for a fee.

STB is partnering three key industry associations in this project. For the first time the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA) have banded together to offer local and regional tour bookings, hotel bookings, attraction packages and events ticketing through Ticketcharge and SISTIC , at the new SVC @ Orchard.

Representing the three associations, Mr Robert Khoo, President of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore said; "This is the first time that NATAS, ASA, and SHA are embarking on such an exciting project with STB. We hope that this is just the start of a longer-term presence at the SVC. The SVC provides a great opportunity to showcase the many exciting tours and attractions and the wide range of accommodation that we have."

Plans are underway to also set up SVCs at Changi Airport. With brochure racks at the airport, major tourism locations, key entry and exit points, as well as a proposed call centre to complement the services provided at the various SVCs, so visitors will have easy access to information round the clock.

Services available at the SVC at Orchard Road

1. Information dissemination on:

- general directions and information on attractions, events, shopping, food, transport and other relevant services 

- itinerary planning

- information on travel arrangements to the region

2. Provision of brochures, maps and tourist publications (including some foreign language brochures) on attractions, events, hotels, restaurants and tour packages in Singapore

3. Feedback Channel and Complaints Handling

4. Dedicated Booking Counter for:

- Local and regional tours

- Events and performances through SISTIC & Ticketcharge

- Hotel reservations

- Packages to various attractions

5. Interactive platforms to surf relevant sites for information

6. Panasonic's E-Album service - visitors digital pictures interspersed with video footage of attractions downloaded onto a CD-ROM

7. Demonstrations of cultural activities which will tie-in with major festivals for example Henna Painting and Calligraphy during Deepavali and Chinese New Year respectively.

8. Showcase of new tourism products / souvenirs

9. Interior and exterior plasma screens showcasing the exciting events and attractions within Singapore

10. Gift Redemption Point for STB promotions