Visitors abound at the very first ‘Singapore Festival’ in Myanmar, held on October 8 and 9 at the Myanmar Plaza. The first day of the festival featured a welcoming speech from Edward Koh, Executive Director of Singapore Tourist Board (STB) Southeast Asia and an opening speech from H.E Mr. Robert Chua, Singapore Ambassador to Myanmar. Myanmar movie stars Pyay Ti Oo and Eaindra Kyaw Zin, who just came back from Singapore, shared delightful stories from their trip, and celebrities Thun Sett and Tun Ko Ko conducted a cooking demonstration on stage.
Organized by the STB and Singapore’s National Tourism Organisation, the festival was an initiative to celebrate 50 years of bilateral relations between Myanmar and Singapore, as well as to show Singapore’s variety of offerings to Myanmar people. The festival boasted an impressive line-up of performances, game shows and celebrities, alongside ongoing food tastings, ‘Book and Buy’ and special giveaways including a grand prize of a 5 Days 4 Nights package trip to Singapore.
The Singapore Tourism Board this year officially launched a charm offensive to try and entice all Myanmar young and old to visit Singapore. The number of Myanmar nationals visiting the neighboring country has grown steadily in recent years, and between January and July 2016, close to 70,000 Myanmar tourists visited Singapore (+7.8% compared to the same period last year). In 2015, a total of 105,452 Myanmar tourists made the journey, and Singapore additionally saw an increase of 16% in business visitor arrivals from the Golden Land.
“We think there is a massive appeal for Myanmar to travel to Singapore for attractions and shopping, to the food and people, there is something to enjoy for everyone. Singapore is a perfect fit for a range of travelers, especially families. Whether it is to go from flea markets to fashion streets to malls, to explore our local neighborhoods and sights, explore our architecture and history or to simply stroll through a park or lie on the beach and relax, Singapore has it all”, said Sherleen Seah, Area Director of STB Thailand and Myanmar. Singapore and Myanmar marked 50 years of diplomatic relations this year and in June the country leaders jointly announced there will be ‘Visa Free’ travel: visitors of either nationality will be given a 30 day visa exemption starting December 1, 2016.
