Essay Example on Singapore: World-Class Transport Infrastructure Boosts Tourism

Introduction

Singapore has highly advanced transport infrastructure that from airports, seaports to roads and bridges that link regionally and internationally. Tourists find it easy to visit the country due to ease of transport and efficiency of the country's air transport network (Phang, 2013). These infrastructures play a significant role in boosting Singapore's tourism sector. Singapore's transport infrastructure is more developed as compared to Thailand's. Singapore is ranked high on the ASEANnations in terms of air transport efficiency and reliability. Besides, Singapore's rail transport is highly efficient. It comprises of passenger rail transit network that interconnects the entire city-state. The rail transport is based on a rapid transit model that is referred to a Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) that is managed by SMRT and SBS transport corporations (UNSD Report, 2013). Though Thailand's Air transport system is rated high in ASEAN region, however, in term of ranking, it performs poorer than Singapore. Thailand's largest Airport is Suvarnabhumi Airport that also doubled up as both domestic and international route for travellers; whereas Singapore's Changi Airport only has international route. The advantages of airport are that it is safe and highly efficient. It has the capacity to ferry people and goods from one location to another. However, one disadvantage is that it is expensive hence only few people can afford.

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In terms of rail transport, Thailand is in the process of replacing the standard railway with high speed trains for rapid transit. Nevertheless, the city of Bangkok is served by a network of high speed rapid transit system; BTS,Airport Link and MRT, similar to Singapore's MRT and LRT as well. Once completed, Thailand will link together with other ASEAN countries such as China and Singapore.Though Thailand's rail transport ranks behind Singapore's in terms of efficiency, the country's rail system is still ranked higher in the region (Ramli & Ismail,2014). On the other hand, rail transport is allows fast movement of people and commercial cargo. Unlike air transport, rail transit is cheap and affordable. Besides, it facilitates movement of large cargo and can ferry more people at once. High speed trains are fast and efficient, necessitating fast transit of people and cargo (Phang, 2013). My key proposal is that since most people in Thailand can't speak English, the government should invest more in training airport staff so they can be able to use English to communicate.

Main organizations and agencies

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is government institution that manages tourism in Singapore. STB performs co-coordination and oversight roles. The board coordinates the effort of different government agencies and also plays an oversight role. The board's mandate is to promote and market Singapore as a tourist destination of choice. Besides STB is in charge of the development of tourism infrastructure and other cultural and historic sites. STB is headed by a chairman and a chief executive officer who are responsible for branding Singapore as a tourist destination of choice (STB,2019).

While tourism in Thailand is managed by The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) that falls under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Just like the STB, TAT is the agency that look after the tourism planning and implementation including regulationand main job is to promotes Thailand as the tourist destination (TTR, 2018). TAT adopted the slogan "Discover Thainess" slogan, while STB used "Passion Made Possible". (Singapore Tourism Board, 2019) TAT is headed by a governor whose role is to look after Thailand's Tourism industry based on 12 Thai values (TAT,2019), whereas Singapore's Board of Tourism (STB) promotes societal values. In spite of organizational and structural differences, the two bodies perform similar functions that include overseeing, regulatory control and marketing of respective country.

Public-private sector partnerships

The governor heads the TAT national office and oversees the work ofTAT directors who coordinate regional tourism. Thailand's regional offices are managed by employees who work under TAT regional directors, as compared to STB, the organization is headed by its appointed private sector chairman and a CEO who oversees all its operations. Both NTO work closely with both public and private sectors in developing it marketing activities. Thus public-private partnerships exist in both nations. Both NTO also work closely with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The most useful model is the Thailand model since it encourages public-private partnership.(UNWTO, 2015).

Historic buildings

Thailand has more historic sites and buildings than Singapore. Besides, Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand is a flight interconnection hub for many international travellers. Thailand has other spectacular attractions such as tropical rain forests, mist-covered mountains as well as ancient monuments. In terms of cultural heritage, Thailand has a rich cultural heritage that is underpinned by the 12 Thai values. It is this wealth of cultural heritage that informed the tourism slogan, "Discover Thainess". The Thai people are known to have a unique cultural heritage that is distinct. Bangkok surpasses Singapore as the most preferred Asian Tourism hotspot (FHB,2015).

Galleries and Museums

Thailand offers more variety than Singapore. For example, Thailand is home to a lot of museums and galleries as compared to Singapore. Museums include The Museum of Huma body, the museum of imagery technology, the Museum of Geology, the museum of natural history and the snail museum (FHB, 2015). There is also the museum of Animal Parasitology that is located in Chulalongkorn University. The National Museum and the Royal Thailand Museum are also a popular tourist attraction. SuanPakkad Palace is also home to The Khon Museum and the Traditional Thai Music Museum. Singapore's museums include The National Museum, History Museum and the Art museum. Galleries in Singapore include The National Gallery and the Art Science Gallery (The Cultural Trip, 2018).

Visitor numbers

In terms of visitor numbers, Thailand ranks above Singapore. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) ranks Thailand as number 10 globally while Singapore has been ranked 13th globally according to the Travel and Tourism Global competitiveness report TAT,2019. In 2017, Singapore attracted 17.4 million tourists and emerged as the 3rd best tourist destination in Asia (Singapore Tourism Board, 2019), while Thailand ranks 2nd in Asiaand received 34.5 million visitors in 2017 (Tourism Authority of Thailand, 2019). According to TAT, Thailand receives 32.59 million tourist annually, and hence it receives more visitors than Singapore representing a 20% increase compared to previous years. Based on a TAT report, Thailand received 4.6 and 7.9 million Chinese tourists in 2014 and 2015 respectively. More than 27% of Thai visitor's originated from China (TTR,2018).

Visitor Profiles

Statistics shows that 70% of Singapore's visitors come from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and mainland China. Chinese tourists comprised 11% of all foreign tourists (STB, 2019;TTR,2018).Singapore's largest tourism market is Indonesia since 20% of all tourists visiting the country come from Archipelago whereas mainland China ranks second. More than 60% of travellers are leisure travellers, whereas business travellers accounts for 20% of visitors (STB, 2019; TAT,2019). On the other hand, Thailand's tourists come from China, Malaysia and Russia. Only a small percentage comes from other nations.

Strongest Markets

Singapore's strongest tourism markets are Indonesia and main land China. Chinese tourists comprised 11% of all the foreign tourists (STB, 2019). Indonesia is the largest market accounting for 20% of all visitors. Most of these Indonesian visitors come from Archipelago whereas mainland China ranks second. There are speculations that China could have overtaken Archipelago to become Singapore's strongest tourism market (STB, 2019). Thailand's tourism market comprised of USA, Vietnam and the United Kingdom (TAT, 2019). Thailand's strongest tourism markets are Spain (75.6 million visitors), Mainland China (59.3 million visitors) whereas Italian visitors contribute 52.4 Million visitors. Other Thailand's strong markets are Germany, UK, Mexico, Thailand and Turkey.

Strategic linkages and alliances

Thailand enjoys cordial relationship with its ASEAN neighbours and the rest of the world. Both countries enjoy bilateral ties and increased socio-economic and political cooperation in different areas including defence and trade (Tan et al, 1995). Regionally, the two cities have signed a defence and security pact for cooperation. Still, Singapore and Thailand enjoy infrastructure linkages through a well-developed air transport infrastructure (Tan et al, 2010). Bangkok airport and Singapore airport are both rated as international.

Furthermore, these economic linkages and strategic alliances have increased bilateral trade estimated at S$30 billion. This collaboration has necessitated co-branding of tourist attractions given the strategic location of the two nations in North East Asia.

Business Travel

Singapore receives more business travellers than its counterpart. On the other hand, Thailand receives more leisure travellers than its ASEAN neighbour. The two countries have different local policy objectives despite increased cooperation pact that was signed to improve and strengthen bilateral ties. Both countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that were ratified in 2015 (Liu et al, 2018; Li and Park, 2013). Besides having a standard collaboration policy, both nations developed a common framework for increased institutional collaboration and linkages. These new policy objectives have led to the formation of Civil Service Exchange Program (CSEP) and STEER program (Thailand, 2014). The Singapore tourism policy statement is that STB shall strive to ensure that tourism is a crucial economic pillar for the nation that is to achieve development though long term planning and strategic partnerships and cooperation aimed at boosting innovation and excellence (Wannapan and Chaiboonsri, 2017).

Conferencing

Thailand enjoys a track record of a global tourist destination for meetings and conferences due to its developed meeting and conferencing facilities (Chaiboonsri and Chaitip, 2008). In terms of venues, Thailand has more conference and meeting compared to its counterpart. However, Singapore has a robust and highly developed transport system. On the other hand, Thailand has more incentives and also organizes tourism exhibitions as a promotional strategy (Ghosh et al, 1996). In terms of hotel quality, Singapore has elegant, though highly priced hotels as compared to Thailand's.

References

Bhamornsathit, S., & Katawandee, P. 2016. An Analysis Of Tourism And Hotel Indicators In Thailand. San Diego: American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1816887644?accountid=45049

Chuamuangphan, N. 2015.The Potential Of Hot Springs In The West Of Thailand For Health Tourism And Sustainability. Varazdin: Varazdin Development and Entrepreneurship Agency (VADEA). Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1722806325?accountid=45049

Chaiboonsri, C; Chaitip, P., 2008. A structural equation model: Thailand`s international tourism demand for tourist destination. Annals of the University of Petrosani, Economics 8, 65-94.

Famour Historic Buildings[FHB]. 2015. Historic places and sites of thr world: Bangok, thailand. http...