India is one of the fastest growing markets for tourist arrivals in Singapore post-pandemic, according to Orchard Road Business Association (Orba) chairman Mark Shaw.
“We are seeing a huge surge of Indian tourists to the Republic this year,” he told the Press Trust Of India.
“Indian travellers come to Singapore to enjoy the country’s many new attractions but we think it is also because they find affinity in our Indian culture and heritage, and feel at home here.”
Singapore Government data shows Indian visitor arrivals went up 15.5 per cent to 792,935 for the first nine months of this year compared with the same period last year.
According to an industry survey, Indian travellers are among the highest spenders globally.
“We are confident that Orba members have a wide range of interesting and innovative products and services to offer,” said Mr Shaw, citing the festival season spanning Deepavali on Nov 12 and the New Year.
The annual Orchard Road light-up, now in its 40th year, has set a tradition of celebrating festivals with colourful decorations and light-ups in many parts of Singapore.
“The success of the first Orchard light-up sparked interest, following which similar light-ups took place in Chinatown, Geylang and Little India,” Mr Shaw pointed out.
The Deepavali light-up in Little India – along the main thoroughfares of Serangoon Road and a section of Race Course Road – this year will end only on Dec 3, making one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the World even more attractive to tourists and local visitors.
MRT trains that run through the Little India area have been decorated with paintings of rangoli and peacocks as well as greetings from the Land Transport Authority, SMRT and the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association.
Indo-Asian News Service
