Singapore arrivals up in Sept on year, 1st this year

Published: 27 Oct 2009 01:15:18 PST

SINGAPORE, Oct 27 - Visitor arrivals in Singapore in September rose 7.1 percent from a year earlier, the first rise this year, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Tuesday.

The pick up occurred as average hotel room rates fell 31.2 percent to S$207 ($148.3). Occupancy rose 4.1 percentage points to 78.2 percent.

The STB said there were 799,000 visitors. The total days spent by tourists in Singapore fell 1.0 percent to 3.2 million.

Singapore is trying to expand tourism as part of efforts to reduce economic reliance on manufacturing. Two casinos -- one operated by Las Vegas Sands <LVS.N> and the other by Genting Singapore <GNTG.SI> -- are scheduled to open next year. ($1=1.396 Singapore Dollar)