Just How Adventurous are Singaporeans?

A recent survey commissioned by Guinness as part of the Guinness Adventures campaign has revealed that almost 60% of Singaporeans have participated in an adventurous sport – including wakeboarding, bungee jumping or mountain climbing.

Despite only 30% of the population considering themselves to be adventurous, over three quarters believe there is strength in numbers, with 83% of respondents saying they would be more inclined to embark on an adventure if they are with their buddies.

Well over a third (46%) are also more likely to be experimental with food when they’re with their friends.

1 in 2 Singaporeans have travelled to between 4 – 9 countries and more than half (53%) would choose the snowy peaks of the Himalayas as their ultimate holiday destination over a range of options including jungle trekking and a staycation.

“There is this perception that Singapore is a ‘safe’ nation. We adhere to the rules, study hard, work hard and spend the weekends at shopping malls. We decided to put that stereotype to the test and find out if Singaporeans are really as conservative as they think. That is why we decided to commission this survey – to determine how adventurous Singaporeans really are,” said Mr Paul Bisson, Marketing Manager of Guinness at Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS). “The Guinness Adventures campaign is our opportunity to reward and celebrate the spirit of adventure in Singapore. We will be sending one winner and two friends on an experience of a lifetime – an all-expense paid 14-day trip to the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. Based on our findings, we are confident that this will be an attractive prize for adventurous Singaporeans.”

Besides determining Singapore’s adventure rating in areas of sports and travel, the survey has reaffirmed the nation’s favourite pastime – food. A majority of Singaporeans would risk their lives for a taste of the exotic, with almost half (47%) of respondents revealing that they were willing to eat the potentially deadly puffer fish if given the chance. However, only 1 in 5 Singaporeans would consider trying duck egg foetus, a popular Filipino delicacy.

Singaporeans also tend to be more adventurous when it comes to work, with almost 70% of respondents saying they would consider making a radical career change in order to pursue their passions. When it came to selecting their dream jobs, the adventurous streak was clearly evident, with a majority choosing to be travel hosts (35.5%), followed by helicopter pilots (17.6%) and archaeologists (14.3%).

It comes as no surprise that buildings and rooftop bars in Singapore keep getting higher, as the findings also revealed that Singaporeans are more afraid of snakes (62.4%) than they are of heights. The nation’s biggest fears also include ghosts (40.4%) and cockroaches (33%).

In the Guinness Adventures campaign teams of three are required to register online and obtain a series of unique codes via purchase, in order to begin their ascent and scale the virtual peak. At the end of the campaign, the teams that succeed in reaching the virtual peak will be in the running to win the Grand Prize of an all-expense paid 14-day trip to the base camp of Mount Everest.

In addition to the Grand Prize, Guinness is also giving away a series of other prizes depending on the different ‘altitudes’ each team reaches. The prizes include $2,000 worth of Guinness and dining experiences at high-altitude locations such as The Sky on 57 at Marina Bay Sands, Equinox @ Swissotel and 1-Altitude by 1 Rochester Group.

Launched in early September, the Guinness Adventures contest will run until 1 November 2010.

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