Singapore, May 20, 2013 – Singapore has emerged as the only Asian city in the Top Ten Convention Cities in the world alongside Vienna, Madrid, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona, according to the latest Global Rankings by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Singapore has also maintained its position as Asia’s Top Convention City for 11 years running.
In 2012, Singapore hosted a record of 150 ICCA events, the highest so far, representing a 5.6 per cent increase from 142 in 2011, compared to the 4.4 per cent increase from 2010 to 2011.
The accolade comes after a stellar year for Singapore tourism as the country welcomed a record high 14.4 million visitors, an increase of nine per cent from 2011 while tourism receipts stood at S$23.0 billion, an increase of three per cent from 2011. For
2013, Singapore forecasts tourism receipts to grow to between S$23.5 – S$24.5 billion, and visitor arrivals to between 14.8 – 15.5 million.
There was also robust performance in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, which saw BTMICE visitor arrivals rise to 2.5 million from January to September 2012, representing a six per cent year-on-year growth.
Expenditure by these business visitors rose seven per cent year-on-year to an estimated S$4.29 billion.
This comes after a successful year of hosting 18 world congresses in 2012, including a number of first-in-Asia or Singapore events such as the Congress of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, International Association of Gaming Regulators
Conference, Young Presidents’ Organisation Global Leadership Summit, World Conference on Tobacco or Health, World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress as well as Global MBA Leadership Conference & Expo.
