International tourist arrivals to Singapore in the first half ofthis year fell by 2.8 percent year-on-year to 7.5 million, mainly due toa decline in the number of Chinese visitors.

According to a report released by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) onAugust 26, the number of Chinese visitors decreased 30 percent to871,000 following the implementation of the China Tourism Law in October2013.

Under the law, travel agencies cannot offer packagesbelow cost in the hope of making up the difference through additionaltourism services (including tourist guide fees) that require additionalpayment, and commissions from designated shopping places in theitinerary.

The STB named other factors that affected Chinesetourist arrivals, including the disappearance of Malaysia AirlinesFlight MH370, abduction of Chinese tourists in Sabah, and politicalunrest in Thailand.

Topping major markets areIndonesia with 1.525 million people visiting the island city in thefirst half, a yearly increase of 30 percent. China came second andMalaysia third with 592,000 visitors (down 2 percent).

As many as 206,000 Vietnamese people visited Singapore in theJan-June period, up 12 percent from the same period last year.

Based on the STB’s tourism performance report for the first quarter ofthis year, Singapore ’s tourism receipts continued to grow 5 percentyear-on-year to hit 6 billion SGD (roughly 4.8 billion USD). Theindustry’s 2014 targets are 16.3-16.8 million international touristarrivals and 23.8-24.6 billion SGD in tourism revenues.-VNA