Business

Published: Tuesday November 24, 2009 MYT 3:24:00 PM

Singapore tourism falls slightly in October


SINGAPORE: Singapore's tourist arrivals fell slightly in October from a year earlier as global travel slowly recovered.

Singapore received 845,000 tourists last month, down 0.5 percent from last year, the Singapore Tourism Board said Tuesday.

Arrivals rose 5.8 percent from September, the board said.

Arrivals increased the first time this year in September from a year earlier.

Tourist visits from Indonesia, which accounts for 16 percent of Singapore's total, fell 13 percent in October while arrivals from China, Australia and Malaysia rose.

Singapore's economy, which relies on trade, finance and tourism, emerged from recession in the third quarter.

The government expects the economy to shrink up to 2.5 percent this year and grow between 3 percent and 5 percent.

Hotel revenue fell 24 percent to $135 million Singapore dollars ($97 million) in October as hotels slashed room rates 24 percent to attract customers, the board said.

The room occupancy rate was 83 percent in October, the highest this year. - AP

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