The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has reported visitor arrivals down 4.5% to 881,000 in July 2009, but it is encouraged that this is the smallest monthly decline this year and key visitor markets registered double-digit

growth, including Hong Kong (+18.2%), Malaysia (+14.9%) and Vietnam (+11.2%).

The STB acknowledges that this growth was mainly due to its summer promotions, which included promotions accompanying the Great Singapore Sale,?plus value holiday packages offered by various airlines.

Indonesia, Australia, The people's Republic of China, India and Malaysia were Singapore's top five visitor-generating markets in July, with Indonesians accounting for 169,000 visitors, Australians 79,000, PRC visitors 72,000, Indians 66,000 and Malaysians 54,000. These markets accounted for 50% of total visitor arrivals for the month.

The STB said it was particularly encouraged by the growth in visitors from India (+4.0%) and the UK (+2.5%), while Indonesian and Australian visitor arrivals were comparable to July 2008 figures.

The STB added that although visitor arrivals from other markets such as Japan, South Korea and the PRC declined when compared to July 2008, the decline was not as steep as in recent months in 2009 coinciding with the summer holiday season.