Tourism Singapore: Socio-Economic Positioning.
Ruling Prime Minister of 3-decades, passing in 2015, Lee Kuan Yew serves as a benchmark in the history of Singaporean tourism. Among his many passions, tourism has been a citadel in the former world leader’s legacy. During his tenure, Lee Kuan Yew has made the island nation a top destination for both business and pleasure.
Lee Kuan Yew’s open skies policy, which coincided with the relocation of Singapore’s main civilian airport to Changi Airspace in July 1981, has made the country the primary player in the Pan Asia Region. In time many other nations would join the fledgling policy, which still holds through today as a part of his legacy, with Kiribati being the latest in a slew of Asian Nations signing the country’s open skies agreement, further affirming Singapore’s appeal as the central aeronautical hub in South East Asia.
Leisure activities and business venues are not in short-stay either, with highlights such as High Tea at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore making for said enchantment, ranging from $100/pax and up, The Fullerton Hotel is the perfect venue for business travelers in interim, looking to court potential investors in Singapore and abroad. Singapore is definitely one of those places, to make that initial stop.
As if that weren’t enough, one of the commanding highlights left behind by the Lee Kuan Yew Legacy is the modern transport systems and communication network, leading us via the Sentosa Express from VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore to Sentosa Island where the newly formed Universal Studios Theme Park, Singapore is now established.
“The best way to honor him is to keep Singapore successful” as quoted in Singapore’s Tourism Board’s parting farewell and tribute to Lee Kuan Yew.
The mainstay attractions are many, as I will highlight in due course, but this is not the only reason to make Singapore your next stop destination for business or pleasure.
In the remote recesses of the Singaporean Underground, are obscure arts cafes, independent music scenes, art-house indie-cinema theaters, all with unique stories to tell and a label that says, “do not go there.” The fact remains; the unassuming is what people begin to pay mind to, but this perpetual counter-culture is not just a timeless generation of beautiful people with a good eye for fashion. They have managed to savor what is left of the Lee Kuan Yew legacy, believing without the shadow of a doubt, that what they do preserves their unfaltering culture.
From the grassroots up Singapore has long been known by the locals as a Mecca for the lovelorn. Women in Singapore leave their fledgling love affairs behind in search of a free-spirited outlook on life. They tend to find it, but these boys who later become young men slowly veer toward alternative forms of expression, as love has left them behind for greener pastures, the arts become a breeding ground for each of their freshest artistic impressions championing the love affair aforementioned. It’s all the same and only ever about love, but it remains.
American Writer of Epic Fantasy, Patrick Rothfuss once wrote:-
‘What a shame to love only once,’ she said, showing her white teeth in a wicked smile. ‘I’ve heard some men can manage twice or even more.’
He ignored her gibe, ‘I am only a fool once. Never will I love again.’
— Patrick Rothfuss, 2007 Quill Award Winner for his debut novel, The Name of the Wind —
Back and forth they would taunt one another, propositioning the other to give in to the ideals of their former lovers.
It begins here. From the ground level up. Eateries, the drinks, the culture in general, and of course the contingent of artists and an assortment of beautiful people. They play it down and is otherwise understated to the locals. There is never too much of anything and by no means is there ever an excess of anything else, just everything in its right doses, par the commercial artists. They live too.
The passing of Lee Kuan Yew has marked that transition into the new age, so too is there never a shortage of things to do… new things! Fresh ideas to sooth every palette.
Built and created in 2012, Gardens by the Bay is exactly where you should be headed next. While looking for that contemporary idea, the freshest of the lot clear in the distant fog as we begin to immerse ourselves completely in the foliage of Singapore’s, ‘City in the Garden,’ a vision lending itself from the country’s` diverse cultural backdrop. The Gardens by the Bay is a sprawling garden in the city, providing mesmerizing waterfront views across three gardens, spanning over 101 hectares of reclaimed land.
Situated in Singapore’s new downtown, Marina Bay, the gardens comprise of three waterfront gardens — Bay South, Bay East, and Bay Central — and presents itself as the most modern-day take on gardening, known to the world over. Its garden artistry is matched by no other and is only truly appreciated once the concept is understood. The world of plants is encapsulated in its mastery of horticulture and stylistically represented in its garden decor. Coincidentally, if you are traveling through South East Asia’s international travel hub, you might want to look into settling on Marina Bay Sands Hotel for easy access to the “Gardens by the Bay.”
Singapore is known as a modern city, with modernity at its core philosophy built into its infrastructure, Singapore’s skyline begins to conjure up our first memories of viewing, “Metropolis,” Fritz Lang’s 1927 classic film — minus the humanoid robot, of course. Modernity is the central theme, making Singapore a city of contrasts, where images of shiny skyscrapers and stone-carved buildings become ever apparent, as we stroll down the 2km walk toward the regions answer to the London Eye, the Singapore Flyer, we are engulfed by all that surrounds us.
We have barely made it out of our hotel room at Marina Bay Sands and already we are getting carried away. These sites may be grandeur but there is a little more… adventure!
Most of the best places to “adventure” really do reside in and around the Marina Bay Sands, that is unless you are looking to soak up a bit of history and perhaps even delve deeper into the Lee Kuan Yew era and legacy. My favorite route? is to get lost on the MRT and venture further north-west where you may sample some of the best shopping in the world, Orchard Road. You may also sample most of the best five-star hotel foods for cheap, as you spiral out of the city center and into the suburban areas of the region’s most spectacular holiday retreat, where all tourists are just as islands, alone and free to soak up the experience of all that surrounds us, Singapore Island.
Adventure to a child may be more akin to a journey one is to make, leading us from point A to point B, with many obstacles ready to begrudge us. An adventure playground in Singapore is not this. Realize your truth, find your people and make your way to 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore 729826, for the closest experience you will ever have to hunt wild lions in the African Safari. Well, I have a conscience!
The Night Safari is the world’s first nocturnal zoo and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore. The concept was put forth by the former executive chairman of the Singapore Zoo, Dr. Ong Swee Law in 1980 before its opening in 1994. With fifty-nine exhibits created to emulate natural environments, the seven geographical zones housed under 86 acres of land adjacent to the Singapore Zoo, champions its 1.1 million annual visitors, with the choice of exploring the replicate habitat by challenging them to survey the site on foot via four walking trails — for those less worthy, you can always take the tram through the park.
With so many attractions already making our list of things to do in, “Singapore’s Adventure Playground,” perhaps it is difficult to comprehend how the average tourist(on transit) is to soak up as much as has already been mentioned. Well fear not, life does not end on a hairpin, there is always another business trip, another vacation or another adventure to be had, especially if you are short on time or finances to truly make the trip as compelling as it can be.
Plan your trip the next time you stop off in Singapore, there is just way too much to do here, too much history to engage with, too much to experience, too much to see and too much to buy into, the adventure has really just begun. And I haven’t even mentioned the most high-octane amusement of all. Singapore F1. Mark your calendar for that.
For more on Singapore visit http://www.visitsingapore.com/en/
