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Singapore Tourism Board kicks off 2019 with Facebook AR filter and new Action Seekers film

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By Shawn Lim, Reporter, Asia Pacific

January 8, 2019 | 4 min read

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The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has created an augmented reality camera filter on Facebook to promote Singapore as a constantly evolving travel destination and launched a new film as it ramps up its marketing efforts for 2019.

The Visit Singapore Facebook Filter, which was created by TBWA and creative technology company AliveNow.

The Visit Singapore Facebook Filter, which was created by TBWA and creative technology company AliveNow, allows users to find the most exciting locations around Singapore and transports them there with AR.

Users can take selfies and record videos of themselves and their friends while wearing fun props that are unique to each location’s vibe.

The AR filter is part of STB’s Passion Made Possible campaign, which aims to showcase the country’s entrepreneurial and innovative strengths to the world under a joint branding campaign between its tourism and business-government agencies to market the country to tourists, consumers, investors, and businesses.

Last week, to kick-start its Passion Made Possible campaign activities for 2019, the STB unveiled its new Action Seekers tribe film, which targets visitors who are looking for adventure and sports in Singapore.

The film showcases young athletes being coached by wakeboarder Sasha Christian, mixed martial arts fighter May Ooi, indoor skydiving World Cup champion Kyra Poh and head coach for youth, Football Association of Singapore, Fandi Ahmad.

“Children embody the spirit of Action Seekers – they are fearless, determined, passionate, young and yet capable of greatness. STB is featuring them in our campaign, to bring across the spiritedness of the Action Seekers through the myriad thrills and possibilities Singapore offers,” said Lim Shoo Ling, the director of brand at STB.

“We are further telling the Action Seeker story by profiling our home-grown sporting personalities, who have persevered and defied the odds to realise their passions, while also highlighting the range of experiences and events that Action Seekers can discover in Singapore.”

The Action Seekers campaign also features sporting activities in Singapore like go-karting, skating, wakeboarding, as well as sporting events such as the annual Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens.

STB was one of the recipients of The Drum’s New Year Honors for throwing its weight behind the Crazy Rich Asians movie – the first film by a major Hollywood studio to feature a majority Asian American cast. It was nominated for Best Motion Picture in the comedy category at the 76th Golden Globe Awards.

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COVID-19 General Advisory for Travellers

What to do if you are unwell or test positive for covid-19 while visiting singapore .

Should you feel unwell or tested positive for COVID-19 

Travellers who are unwell or tested positive for COVID-19 should receive medical advice if they fulfil any of the following criteria.

• Aged 60 and older
• Have Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) symptoms
• Immunocompromised or have concurrent medical conditions such as obesity (e.g., adults with a BMI ≥30), hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart and lung diseases, kidney diseases on dialysis, hypercoagulable states, cancer, or patients on drugs that cause immunosuppression
• Persons with Down’s syndrome

Persons with mild ARI symptoms should stay at home until symptoms resolve.

If there is a need to go out while symptomatic, or if asymptomatic but test positive for COVID-19, exercise social responsibility by observing the following practices. 

• Minimise social interactions
• Wear a mask
• Avoid crowded places
• Do not visit vulnerable places such as hospitals and nursing homes
• Do not have contact with vulnerable persons such as the elderly

Refer to https://www.moh.gov.sg/licensing-and-regulation/telemedicine . Should you test positive on a COVID-19 PCR test, please note that you will be assigned a separate telemedicine provider for medical support while you are serving your Isolation, and should not reach out to the telemedicine providers on this list. 

Self-administered ART kits can be purchased online or from pharmacies and drugstores around Singapore. Hotels may also carry self-administered kits for purchase. If you test positive on an ART and are self-isolating, you should purchase your ART kits through contactless methods and should not leave your accommodation to do so.

By default, travellers should recover in hotels or residential accommodation unless they are 1) partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, aged 50 years and above 2) Vaccinated, aged 80 years and above 3) Children aged below 3 months and children aged 3 months to below 3 years, who have been assessed by a medical professional to be clinically unsuitable to recover at home or in a hotel. These travellers will be advised by MOH to be transferred to an appropriate care facility. Travellers may opt to recover at home if they own a residence in Singapore. Travellers may not check into another hotel for recovery, or change their isolation venues (e.g. transfer hotels) once they have begun isolating. They will only be released upon fulfilling the recovery conditions.

Health Risk Notices (HRN) are issued to persons identified as close contacts of a COVID-positive case, if declared a close contact by a COVID-positive case.

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BRANDED CONTENT

In the business of fun: meet the people who help shape singapore’s tourism infrastructure, with strong organisational support and job rotation opportunities, these singapore tourism board employees develop critical skill sets on the job as they transform the country into an even more attractive destination.

Behind the ultra-stylish integrated resorts that are firm favourites among tourists, the sprawling Singapore Expo that plays host to some of the largest events in the region, and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS), one of the largest and most uniquely designed cruise terminals in South-east Asia, is a team that ensures these are not only operating at peak condition at all times, but also plans years into the future to shape Singapore’s physical tourism landscape. 

Meet the Infrastructure Planning and Management (IPM) division of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), which oversees the operations and development of Cruise and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) infrastructure, as well as the two integrated resorts. 

Stepping out of her comfort zone to broaden her expertise in cruise infrastructure 

In her decade-long career with STB, Ms Poline Lim, 33, has undertaken different facets of the statutory board’s work, from enhancing visitor experience through technology to attracting best-in-class association conventions and a secondment to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). These opportunities enabled her to develop a broad spectrum of skill sets and insights to both leisure and business tourism.  

She took on her current Cruise infrastructure portfolio at the IPM division in 2022. As the Assistant Director of the IPM (Cruise) team, she delved into engineering and construction related work for the first time, which pushed her out of her comfort zone. 

In her role overseeing the MBCCS, Ms Lim leads a five-member team that deals with a wide range of responsibilities. From maintaining the physical infrastructure of the facility to working with the appointed cruise terminal operator to ensure smooth daily cruise operations, her team’s work is crucial to the success of the terminal. 

With Singapore's cruise sector posting a record 2 million passengers with more than 340 ship calls in 2023, the team’s primary focus is to maintain the MBCCS as a world-class terminal that can adapt to the ever-evolving needs of cruise lines while also planning ahead for the growth of the cruise industry.

“I’m not an engineer so it was challenging at the start but also very fulfilling,” she says, referring to the technical conversations about terminal structures, ship specifications, and marine navigation that have now become a part of her daily work. 

She credits her ability to navigate these uncharted waters to two factors: A strong team of specialists who are trained in engineering and construction-related fields, and close collaboration with other government agencies including JTC Corporation, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Urban Redevelopment Authority.

“It may sound like a cliche but every day is a learning experience with this team. Leveraging the expertise of my team and other agencies, I am able to learn and appreciate the technicalities involved in my work to make informed recommendations on the planning of our cruise infrastructure,” says Ms Lim, who has also attended courses in facility management and land use planning with her team to strengthen her capabilities. 

Ms Lim’s team is already looking ahead to 2050, having started preliminary discussions on supporting infrastructure required to help the cruise industry reach its net-zero emissions goal. 

Gaining experience and confidence to elevate Singapore’s MICE scene 

Like Ms Lim, Mr Bryan Law has benefited greatly from on-the-job learning. Combined with various job rotation opportunities, the 34-year-old has been fully exposed to different behind-the-scenes functions of the tourism industry.

Before joining STB as a full-time staff within the Integrated Resorts team in 2017, Mr Law gained valuable experience through internships with the Visitor Experience Centre, Formula 1 (F1) and Sports Business and Partnership divisions. These provided him with insights into both visitor-facing and industry-related aspects of STB’s work. 

While he has always been passionate about tourism, having pursued his tertiary education in Leisure and Resort Management, Mr Law initially felt a bit uncertain in navigating policy matters related to the industry, such as manpower and land issues. However, he credits STB’s strong mentorship culture, where experienced colleagues readily share their knowledge and guide newer team members. This supportive environment, coupled with ample opportunities for cross-functional collaboration, has been instrumental in his professional growth. 

“Once I had built up the confidence, I was able to keep up with the pace of work and contribute in a bigger way towards my team and the organisation,” he says. 

During his earlier stint as a Senior Manager with the IPM (Integrated Resorts) team, Mr Law took up career development opportunities within the board, which included a short stint with the Exhibitions & Conferences team which oversees the growth of large-scale business events in Singapore. This was instrumental when he was later promoted to Assistant Director of IPM (MICE). 

As portfolio lead, he oversees the ongoing management and maintenance of Singapore Expo, the country’s largest MICE venue, while also working with privately-owned MICE facilities such as the Suntec Exhibition & Convention Centre, in an effort to maintain Singapore’s position as a top MICE destination of choice within the region.

He has also led the team to work with Singapore Expo to introduce leisure offerings, such as new food and beverage options, a sports hall as well as an entertainment facility, to enhance its attractiveness as a MICE venue. 

Looking ahead, Mr Law’s team is focused on ensuring all six purpose-built MICE venues in Singapore, including Raffles City Convention Centre, Resorts World Convention Centre and Sands Expo & Convention Centre, obtain internationally or nationally recognised sustainability certifications (or both) by 2025. An example of this is working with Singapore Expo to install Singapore’s largest single-site solar rooftop that generates renewable energy to power the venue’s operations. 

This initiative is a part of the MICE Sustainability Roadmap, an initiative by STB and the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers which aims to raise sustainability standards across Singapore’s MICE industry over the next few years. 

Finding fulfilment through diverse roles and job rotations 

Another key member of STB’s IPM team developing the country’s tourism offerings is Mr Darren Leow, 36, an Assistant Director with the IPM (Integrated Resorts) team.

His journey at STB has been marked by exposure to diverse roles and opportunities, which has contributed to his professional growth and given him a comprehensive understanding of the organisation’s multifaceted work. This includes an overseas posting to the STB regional office in Mumbai, India, and a secondment to MTI, and roles in international relations, business development and data analytics.

These rotations, he says, have given him a “sense of fulfilment”, enabling him to develop different skill sets and providing him with an in-depth knowledge of STB’s broad scope of work. 

“Because our work encompasses regulator, developer, policymaker, marketer and other roles, there’s always something new to try and learn from,” he explains.

Drawing from his wealth of experience, Mr Leow brings valuable insights to his role in the IPM (Integrated Resorts) team. He has a hand in a range of matters related to food and beverage, hotels, attractions, retail and entertainment within Singapore’s two integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). 

His role also involves government policy and stakeholder management, allowing him to leverage his diverse experience at STB. This is further enhanced by STB’s leadership culture, which fosters an environment where individuals are encouraged to take ownership, collaborate effectively, make sound decisions autonomously when needed and inspire others through their actions. 

Currently, his team is working closely with MBS and RWS on their respective expansions that will enrich Singapore’s tourism offerings and enhance the integrated resorts’ vibrancy and tourism appeal. 

The new world-class tourism facilities and attractions will include a 15,000-seater state-of-the-art entertainment arena and an iconic, luxury all-suite hotel at MBS with a rooftop public attraction, as well as a new waterfront lifestyle complex, Illumination’s Minion Land and Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Singapore in RWS. 

To gain inspiration for enhancing Singapore’s integrated resort offerings and to ensure that they stay ahead of the competition, he has undertaken study trips with his team to other world-class tourism destinations, such as Las Vegas, where he had the opportunity to experience the newly opened Sphere entertainment arena. 

For Mr Leow, working at STB offers not only the immense satisfaction of shaping Singapore’s physical landscape to make it a more attractive destination but also an unexpected perk: Witnessing the behind-the-scenes planning of new lifestyle offerings and events at the two integrated resorts. 

Besides these tangible benefits, he values the strong sense of unity and shared mission at STB. This dedication to promoting Singapore as a world-class destination has fostered a strong sense of camaraderie among colleagues and an “all hands on deck” attitude towards supporting STB initiatives and events. 

This commitment is evident in the way STB staff are always ready to contribute, from volunteering to run marquee events like the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix to taking part in company-wide team bonding initiatives.

As Mr Leow puts it, “STB is a place where staff bring their whole selves to work – with all of our interests and energy. After all, we are in the business of fun, and passion is our brand.” 

Find out more about careers with STB here.

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Trending Topics

Follow our news, recent searches, two-thirds of eligible population redeemed singaporediscovers vouchers: stb, advertisement.

A staff member assists an elderly in his booking using the SingapoRediscovers vouchers. (Photo: CNA/Cindy Co)

Gabrielle Andres

SINGAPORE: About 1.9 million Singaporeans, or about two-thirds of the total eligible population, used their SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRV) at least once before the scheme ended on Dec 31 last year.

About 2.6 million transactions were recorded, amounting to S$300 million, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Friday (Jan 20). This comprises about S$180 million in vouchers and about S$120 million in out-of-pocket payments.

“The SRV scheme provided much-needed support for our local tourism businesses during this challenging time,” STB said in its media release.

“Both big and smaller merchants across the three core tourism industries have seen uplifts in their revenue since the launch of the SRV scheme in December 2020.”

The vouchers also had a “multiplier effect”, which resulted in additional spending at tourism and related businesses, it added.

Some smaller merchants, including tours, were fully booked in advance.

“There was an uptick in bookings for tours, with robust bookings during the school holidays,” it said.

In November, STB extended the deadline for visits using the vouchers to Mar 31, but bookings had to be made by Dec 31.

Eventually, the deadline for online bookings were further  extended by an hour on Jan 1 after a surge in last-minute bookings resulted in technical difficulties for some users .

Validity of SingapoRediscovers Vouchers extended to end-March, bookings must be made by Dec 31

SingapoRediscovers voucher redemption extended by an hour after users report technical issues

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Advisory on COVID-19 for Travellers and Tourism Businesses

13 February 2023

General Advisory for Travellers

1. Singapore is open to all travellers without quarantine. This includes non-fully vaccinated travellers. Covid-19 pre-departure tests are not required. More details are available  here. 2. Depending on the destination you are travelling from, mask-wearing aboard flights and ferries to Singapore may be required. Travellers are advised to check with the respective transport operator on the mask-wearing requirement prior to their trip.

3. Singapore has stepped down all COVID-19 measures and mask wearing is not required except in healthcare settings. However, do practise good personal hygiene and wear a mask if you are unwell.

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About the Organisation

What industry does your organization fall within, what best describes the key intent of the project that your organisation is seeking funding for, is your organisation a singapore-registered legal entity, is your organisation an association, is the project able to achieve one or more of the following outcome.

• Increase no. of sailings to/from Singapore
• Increase no. of foreign cruise passengers to Singapore through sailings to/from Singapore
• Increase no. of pre/post nights for cruise passengers sailing to/from Singapore
• Increase capability of industry players via cruise-specific industry training programmes
• Strengthen the potential/ attractiveness of cruising in Singapore and/or Southeast Asia

Is the project able to achieve one or more of the following?

• Improve visitor satisfaction (especially foreign visitors)
• Increase footfall
• Increase revenue
• Significant branding and PR value

Is the project able to attract foreign visitors and contribute to foreign visitors' spend?

Who will be the main target audience of your project, is your project innovative and/or a new event in singapore with tourism potential, what best describes your project, does the event have proven track records in singapore or overseas, and/or growth in tourism value such as growing foreign visitorship, and/or enhancement of precinct vibrancy etc, does the project have a clear tourism focus (e.g. tourism-related trainings, tourism companies taking on capability development initiatives or technology companies creating technology products and services for the tourism businesses), what best describes your market feasibility study project.

Based on your selection, the following STB grant/s may be applicable for your project:

Please note that projects that have commenced prior to Singapore Tourism Board's offer may not be eligible for grant support. Examples where projects are deemed as having commenced include:

• Applicant has started work on the project e.g. tender has been called.
• Applicant has made payment(s) to any supplier, vendor or third party.
• Applicant has signed a contractual agreement with any supplier, vendor or third party.