Post by oldmike on Sept 9, 2007 9:20:29 GMT 7
STRAITS TIMES
Sep 4, 2007
Free tours to ethnic fests
FREE walking tours have been organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to give visitors a chance to experience Singapore's multicultural heritage this year.
For the second year in a row, the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept 25, Hari Raya Puasa on Oct 13 and Deepavali on Nov 8 will be celebrated one after another. An extensive calendar of events has been lined up to highlight Singapore's cultural and ethnic diversity.
The celebrations, which run from this month to November, will begin with light-ups at Geylang Serai this Saturday and at Kampong Glam on Sunday, lantern displays at Hong Lim Park, and firewalking feats.
An STB survey carried out last year revealed that tourists make up 12 per cent of visitors to the ethnic areas during these festive periods.
It also showed that nine in 10 tourists who went there did so because they knew something had been organised. One in three tourists also timed their visit to Singapore to coincide with the festivals.
Ms Margaret Teo, STB's assistant chief executive of leisure, said: 'Visitors who attended the celebrations last year enjoyed the crowds, the lights, and generally soaking in the festive atmosphere.'
Guided walking tours of the ethnic areas have therefore been introduced to give tourists a greater feel of the festivals. There will be three tours daily for the duration of each of the festivals.
These events come at a time when tourist arrivals are at an all-time high. In July, 951,000 tourists visited Singapore, breaking last July's record of 914,000.
For more information, visit www.visitsingapore.com/1city3fest/
__._,_.___
Sep 4, 2007
Free tours to ethnic fests
FREE walking tours have been organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to give visitors a chance to experience Singapore's multicultural heritage this year.
For the second year in a row, the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept 25, Hari Raya Puasa on Oct 13 and Deepavali on Nov 8 will be celebrated one after another. An extensive calendar of events has been lined up to highlight Singapore's cultural and ethnic diversity.
The celebrations, which run from this month to November, will begin with light-ups at Geylang Serai this Saturday and at Kampong Glam on Sunday, lantern displays at Hong Lim Park, and firewalking feats.
An STB survey carried out last year revealed that tourists make up 12 per cent of visitors to the ethnic areas during these festive periods.
It also showed that nine in 10 tourists who went there did so because they knew something had been organised. One in three tourists also timed their visit to Singapore to coincide with the festivals.
Ms Margaret Teo, STB's assistant chief executive of leisure, said: 'Visitors who attended the celebrations last year enjoyed the crowds, the lights, and generally soaking in the festive atmosphere.'
Guided walking tours of the ethnic areas have therefore been introduced to give tourists a greater feel of the festivals. There will be three tours daily for the duration of each of the festivals.
These events come at a time when tourist arrivals are at an all-time high. In July, 951,000 tourists visited Singapore, breaking last July's record of 914,000.
For more information, visit www.visitsingapore.com/1city3fest/
__._,_.___
