The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has special plans to celebrate 50 years of tourism development and promotion through its Tourism50 programme and is laying down the red carpet to invite everyone to revisit famous attractions. Over the last five decades, the tiny island of Singapore has grown into a major hub for tourism, attracting millions of visitors from all over the globe. With world-class tourist attractions dotting the beautifully maintained city state, the Lion City is on every traveler’s wish list. In an effort to commemorate 50 years of tourism development and promotion, STB launched its second phase of celebrations across the Island. Themed as ‘Rediscover,’ the events are a great way for everyone to see all the sights and sounds of Singapore.
There are three phases to the celebrations; the previous theme was Reminisce, the second from April to October is Rediscover and the final one launched at the end of the year will be Celebrate!
One of the major highlights for Reminiscence in March was Reliving Haw Par Villa – visitors here can explore the world of Chinese legends and folklore including the gruesome graphic dioramas of the tortures of Hell! Haw Par Villa is located on the western part of the island and is easily accessible by mass rapid transit (MRT) train and admission is free.
For Rediscover, the programme of events and activities will further inspire passion amongst locals for tourism developments said Ms Melissa Ow, Assistant Chief Executive, Experience Development Group, STB. She said this at the media launch of Tourism50 Rediscover phase at Jurong Bird Park. The spotlight will fall on a gamut of unique experiences ranging from Arts, Heritage, Cruise and Sports attractions. From family entertainment to wildlife tours and heritage conservation tours, the Rediscover phase is set to invite locals and tourists to create new memories with friends and loved ones and build a better understanding and appreciation of the work and passion of the tourism workforce.
As an added treat, there will be a plethora of events and activities happening during Rediscover which includes a number of attractions on Sentosa Island, Forest Adventure, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Flyer, and Wild Wild Wet at Downtown East. From free admission and special discounts, visitors can soak in the celebratory atmosphere.
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Gardens by the Bay Highlights
Singapore is undoubtedly Asia’s premier Garden City and a visit to the island is not complete without going to Gardens by the Bay. In addition to its usual attractions there is a regular programme of events to enjoy. Since May visitors can view its new French Faire Floral Display in the Flower Dome to take in the beauty and fragrance of blooms like lavender, lilac, jasmine and gardenia amidst a manicured garden setting with the Eiffel Tower as the horticultural centrepiece.
In June, there are special programmes for children aged four to nine to learn more about flora and fauna through a series of tours and craft activities such as ‘Stories in the Understorey’ that takes place at the Bay’s Outdoor Gardens. The Understorey is filled with hidden secrets waiting to be discovered as kids will learn about the roles tiny creatures in the ground play, to keep the soil healthy for plants to grow big and strong as well as bring back a self-made souvenir! For more information and to register your child for the event please visit http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
Next, are the ‘Sustainable Garden’ presentations where children learn more about Gardens by the Bay’s sustainability strategies with a series of simple experiments and other fun activities at the Cannonball Room located at the Supertree Grove. They are held on weekends from 10am to 5pm; admission is on a first-come, first served basis. Finally, there is the Tulipmania Photography Exhibition which is suitable for the whole family with photos from Tulipmania 2013, and winning entries from Tulipmania 2014. This will be on till 29 June at the Bay’s Colonnade.
Behind-the-Scene Tours
Another unique opportunity for visitors during this period are the Behind-the-Scenes tours that offer a rare glimpse into the daily life of people working in the tourism sector preserving cultural artefacts and artworks, Behind the Scenes tour will showcase the work that goes behind Heritage Conservation Centres and museums tours.
Then there are the Cable Car Back-of-House Tours. Singapore cable car remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city state. For the first time since its inception, locals and tourists can see for themselves how the smooth operation of Singapore’s only cableway is maintained.
The Walk on the Wild side Tours involving the world-class Singapore Zoo, innovative Night Safari and recently introduced River Safari, Singapore has more than its fair share of wild life centric attractions. In this innovative tour, interested tourists can get behind the scenes and become a Panda Researcher or explore how to feed Singapore’s exotic birds and animals at the zoo.
For Sports Fans
For sports enthusiasts a series of guided tours of the new National Stadium and Singapore Sports Museum at the soon-to-be-inaugurated Singapore Sports Hub is on the cards for September. The icing on the cake is that these tours will be led by local sports celebrities! “We have brought on-board local sports personalities to lead the tours of our two new exciting venues – the new National Stadium and the Singapore Sports Museum in Sports Hub – because each of them will share their own personal narratives and present the story of Singapore’s sporting history through a different lens,” said Ms Hairani Joshi, Director, Singapore Sports Museum.
Art, Heritage & Architecture talks and guided tours and free talks for art aficionados are also being offered by Art Outreach Singapore, a non-profit arts organisation, on local artists such as Georgette Chen and Liu Kang. Another added attraction is the architectural tour of the National Museum of Singapore that will include an exclusive view of the iconic rotunda and dome.
More about Tourism50
This is an initiative spearheaded by the Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism50 commemorates 50 years of tourism development and promotion. Through its three phases of events and activities viz Reminisce, Rediscover and Celebrate, everyone is invited to share their Tourism50 experiences on social media using the hashtag #rediscoversg. For more information, please visit www.xinmsn.com.
