TOURISTS FROM ASEAN COUNTRIES

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Trade and Industry whether the number of visitors from ASEAN countries has dropped and, if so what steps are being taken to encourage more ASEAN tourists to visit Singapore.

BG Lee Hsien Loong: ASEAN has been and will remain as one of Singapore's major sources of tourists. Between 1980 and 1987, ASEAN accounted for about 36% of total tourist arrivals to Singapore, making it the largest single tourist -generating market.

Arrivals from ASEAN countries rose by 7.3% in 1987. This reversed the decline in arrivals in the past four years, caused by the introduction of travel restrictions by other ASEAN countries. The pick-up in arrivals continued into January 1988, with a robust growth of 14% as compared to the same month last year.

With more promotional activities undertaken by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board in the ASEAN region, continued growth in ASEAN tourists can be expected.