Singapore’s first quarter visitor figures for 2008 show an impressive 20% increase in visitors from the Middle East to the Island Nation, underscoring the rising popularity of Singapore as a tourism destination.

Over the past few years, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as the leading source market in the region for travel to Singapore, followed by Iran and Saudi Arabia, with steady growth visitor growth seen throughout the Middle East.

In the first quarter of 2008, visitor numbers from the UAE to Singapore have surged by 23% year-on-year.

With a host of major upcoming events and attractions in 2008, Singapore is laying the foundation for a future which holds strong potential for ongoing growth in visitor numbers. Upcoming events include the SingTel Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, the Singapore GP Season and the Volvo Ocean Race, while new attractions like the Singapore Flyer and new shopping haven ION Orchard are redefining the city-state.

“Singapore is constantly re-inventing itself. With a wide range of new attractions and events, we are sure that Middle East visitors will continue to have unique experiences in Singapore,” said Siew-Kheng Kang, Regional Director for South Asia, Middle East and Africa.

“We have been transforming Singapore’s tourism landscape and will have even more world-class projects in the near future including family-themed attractions to further drive tourism growth,” she added.

Singapore aims to strengthen its brand among regional travellers by communicating its position as a sophisticated and vibrant world-class destination offering diverse and exciting experiences for both new and repeat visitors.

For the coming year, Singapore plans to leverage on several key tourism opportunities, particularly in the cruise, hotel, and MICE industries. The city-state is also well positioned as Asia’s healthcare hub, attracting an increasing number of travellers from the region seeking the most advanced medical treatments and facilities in Asia.