The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is optimistic the latest move by the country’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority in relaxing the visa regulations for nationals from the People’s Republic of China will give a fillip to the nation’s tourism industry.
The extended visa validity will attract more Chinese tourists.
The immigration authority will, from June 1, extend the Multiple Journey Visas (MJVs) to a maximum of 10 years. The new ruling is also applicable to the traveller’s spouse and children under 21 years old.
Chinese travellers who have previously visited Singapore, and whose visa application is supported by relevant Singapore agencies, will automatically be granted visas with 10-year validity when they apply. The visa procedure and fees remain the same.
The NTO said the extended validity of the MJVs would reduce the hassle of having to reapply for a visa for each trip, and make it more convenient for PRC tourists to visit Singapore.
This, in turn, would enhance STB’s efforts to increase visitor arrivals and tourism spending, which will benefit Singapore businesses and workers in tourism-related, it added.
Leong Yue Kheong, STB’s assistant chief executive, international group, said: “This move will support STB’s strategy of promoting quality tourism and attracting visitors from our key source markets. It is also timely as we intensify our destination marketing efforts this year, with an exciting calendar of activities planned in conjunction with Singapore’s 50th anniversary.
Theme parks are popular with Chinese tourists. (Image credit: Imran Ahmed/iStock)
He added that apart from China “STB is also reaching out to visitors from other key markets including Indonesia, India and Australia.”
The NTO is also working with the Singapore embassy in China to expand the network of authorised visa agents so that PRC visitors have more channels to apply for Singapore visas.
As part of its marketing efforts to drive travel demand from the PRC, STB’s China office had launched a micro-movie by Singaporean director Royston Tan on April 15, 2015.
The microfilm showcases unusual aspects of Singapore as seen through the eyes of a Chinese child on an exchange programme, and revolves around the budding friendship he has with his host, a Singaporean classmate. The video can be viewed here.
