Hotel occupancy, room rates at all time high: STB

Revenue per available room hit $165.90 and gazetted hotels here generated total room revenue of $854.4 million, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in a statement.

SINGAPORE'S hotel sector posted outstanding performance this year, with hotel occupancy and room rates at an all time high, said the tourism board on Tuesday.

For the first six months of this year, the average room rate grew by 19.5 per cent to $192, while the average occupancy rate reached 86 per cent.

Revenue per available room hit $165.90 and gazetted hotels here generated total room revenue of $854.4 million, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in a statement.

For the month of June, the average room rate crossed the $200 mark for the first time to reach $210.

Gazetted hotels churned out $164.3 million in room revenue and $181.60 in revenue for each available room.

STB said these are not only historical highs for any single month but also significant double-digit growth in excess of 20 per cent, compared to June last year.

Singapore also received more visitors than ever before in the first half of the year, it noted.
'This is the highest visitor arrivals recorded over the January to June period for the Singapore tourism sector,' said STB.

It added it's confident of meeting its full-year target of 10.2 million visitors with an expected boost during the peak months of July, August and December.

Estimated tourism receipts for the six months reached $6.4 billion, a nine per cent increase, which has a full-year target of $13.6 billion.

'We have also seen record high visitor arrivals for each month this year compared to the same month in previous years,' said Lim Neo Chian, STB'S chief executive and deputy chairman.

Indonesians were the largest group of visitors, with 911,000 arriving between January and June.

China was second with 529,000, followed by India with 386,000, said STB.

Lacking natural attractions, Singapore has embarked on a major campaign to spruce up its tourist appeal.

It has plans for new attractions including two casino resorts, expected to open by 2010.

It is also trying to become an arts and entertainment centre, and will host its first Formula One Grand Prix event later next year. -- AFP