Merlion
AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE MERLION
Exploring the touristic images of Southeast Asia
Aw Su
A0071294
A0071294@nus.edu.sg
SE1101E
Tutor: Lina Puryanti
Wednesday 12-2pm
29th September 2010
Aim of reflection paper
For this project, I have chosen to visit the Merlion because as our national icon symbolizing our mythical origins, it is one of the most prioritized touristic images of Singapore. There is a lot we can explore about the construct that seen in the context of all Southeast Asian countries’ (SEA) touristic representation, can help us gain valuable insights into how Singapore views itself as SEA within the region.
Singapore; the Southeast Asian anomaly
Whilst geographically Singapore lies within the region, as an economically vibrant and cosmopolitan city-state, our urban landscape and fluid demographics (majority non-SEA in ethnicity) juxtaposes us with the rest of the SEA countries, making us a SEA anomaly. As it is, being such a diverse region, it is hard to constitute the idea of being ‘Southeast Asian’. However faced a similar post-colonial identity crisis after independence; they were collectively bound in their need to cultivate a cohesive national identity. Whilst they sought to emphatically stamp out colonialism in the construct of a new national identity, through examining the touristic images these SEA countries present to the rest of the world, we can learn more about the way in which they identify themselves as a region.
Merlion: A touristic image of Southeast Asia
Given the fact that the Merlion is Singapore’s national icon which provides a strong testament for our rich pre-colonial and mythical history of origin (NewsAsia Singapore) it is interesting that many Singaporeans feel estranged from it as it has failed in invoking an unified sense of national identity, while tourists can identify it more readily as the national symbol of Singapore (Weigiang, 2008). With the opening of the exhibition gallery within the Merlion at Sentosa,
Exploring the touristic images of Southeast Asia
Aw Su
A0071294
A0071294@nus.edu.sg
SE1101E
Tutor: Lina Puryanti
Wednesday 12-2pm
29th September 2010
Aim of reflection paper
For this project, I have chosen to visit the Merlion because as our national icon symbolizing our mythical origins, it is one of the most prioritized touristic images of Singapore. There is a lot we can explore about the construct that seen in the context of all Southeast Asian countries’ (SEA) touristic representation, can help us gain valuable insights into how Singapore views itself as SEA within the region.
Singapore; the Southeast Asian anomaly
Whilst geographically Singapore lies within the region, as an economically vibrant and cosmopolitan city-state, our urban landscape and fluid demographics (majority non-SEA in ethnicity) juxtaposes us with the rest of the SEA countries, making us a SEA anomaly. As it is, being such a diverse region, it is hard to constitute the idea of being ‘Southeast Asian’. However faced a similar post-colonial identity crisis after independence; they were collectively bound in their need to cultivate a cohesive national identity. Whilst they sought to emphatically stamp out colonialism in the construct of a new national identity, through examining the touristic images these SEA countries present to the rest of the world, we can learn more about the way in which they identify themselves as a region.
Merlion: A touristic image of Southeast Asia
Given the fact that the Merlion is Singapore’s national icon which provides a strong testament for our rich pre-colonial and mythical history of origin (NewsAsia Singapore) it is interesting that many Singaporeans feel estranged from it as it has failed in invoking an unified sense of national identity, while tourists can identify it more readily as the national symbol of Singapore (Weigiang, 2008). With the opening of the exhibition gallery within the Merlion at Sentosa,
Bibliography: ASEAN tourism. (n.d.). Retrieved september 24th, 2010, from Concept rationale: Asia 's Perfect 10 paradise: http://www.asean-tourism.com/aseanlogo/ Newasia Singapore Newsasia Singapore. (n.d.). Retrieved september 24th, 2010, from what does the merlion represent?: http://www.newasia-singapore.com/faq/what_does_the_merlion_represent?.html Newsasia Singapore Hall, M. C., & Page, S. (2000). Tourism in South and Southeast Asia: issues and cases. Woburn: Butterworth-Heinemann. ( p. 42) Peggy Teo, T Weigiang, L. (2008). Signs of the Land: Rethinking the Merlion in Tourism and Nationalism. Universitas 21 Undergraduate Research Conference: Queensland, (p. 5-6).