Singapore in tourism
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Tourism in Singapore:
An Overview of Policies and Issues
Brenda S.A. Yeoh, Tan Ern Ser,
Jennifer Wang and Theresa Wong
The management of tourism in Singapore has undergone various changes over the decades. The adoption of different policies and strategies aimed at promoting and championing tourism in Singapore has been subject to socio-economic changes on the local and global fronts. A deeper understanding of the issues pertaining to tourism development in Singapore necessitates a review of the
“background” of these challenges as they relate to particular social, economic and political conditions of Singapore. As an introduction, this section aims to review tourism policies of Singapore with particular emphasis on the responses to the issues arising during different periods of Singapore’s post-independence history. This will be followed by a synopsis of the chapters included in this book, which will serve to provide a summary map of the main arguments in this volume. A third section will address the future prospects and challenges for Singapore in its tourism management efforts.
Tourism Management through the Decades:
A Review of Tourism Policies
Tourism management in Singapore has sought to be adaptable to the changes in the wider socio-economic environment. Tourism policies and strategies have thus largely corresponded to global forces influencing trends in tourism and economic development, as well as responded to local factors such as changing social conditions in the city-state.
TMP-chap01.p65
3
02/01/2002, 2:08 PM
4
TOURISM MANAGEMENT AND POLICY
The post-independence period (after 1965) in Singapore saw a tourism boom not unlike that in many parts of the world, spurred on by technological improvements in transportation and communications (Teo, 1994). As it became faster and cheaper to travel, tourist arrivals increased. Tourism during this period yielded considerable economic returns, while the impacts
1
Tourism in Singapore:
An Overview of Policies and Issues
Brenda S.A. Yeoh, Tan Ern Ser,
Jennifer Wang and Theresa Wong
The management of tourism in Singapore has undergone various changes over the decades. The adoption of different policies and strategies aimed at promoting and championing tourism in Singapore has been subject to socio-economic changes on the local and global fronts. A deeper understanding of the issues pertaining to tourism development in Singapore necessitates a review of the
“background” of these challenges as they relate to particular social, economic and political conditions of Singapore. As an introduction, this section aims to review tourism policies of Singapore with particular emphasis on the responses to the issues arising during different periods of Singapore’s post-independence history. This will be followed by a synopsis of the chapters included in this book, which will serve to provide a summary map of the main arguments in this volume. A third section will address the future prospects and challenges for Singapore in its tourism management efforts.
Tourism Management through the Decades:
A Review of Tourism Policies
Tourism management in Singapore has sought to be adaptable to the changes in the wider socio-economic environment. Tourism policies and strategies have thus largely corresponded to global forces influencing trends in tourism and economic development, as well as responded to local factors such as changing social conditions in the city-state.
TMP-chap01.p65
3
02/01/2002, 2:08 PM
4
TOURISM MANAGEMENT AND POLICY
The post-independence period (after 1965) in Singapore saw a tourism boom not unlike that in many parts of the world, spurred on by technological improvements in transportation and communications (Teo, 1994). As it became faster and cheaper to travel, tourist arrivals increased. Tourism during this period yielded considerable economic returns, while the impacts
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