SPEECH BY MR S ISWARAN, MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY (INDUSTRY), AT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2016, 25 APRIL 2016, 9AM, SUNTEC CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
Government support for industry
10. To underscore the government’s continued commitment to work with the industry to drive tourism growth, we are allocating S$700 million to a third tranche of the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) from 2016 to 2020.
11. Similar in scale to the second tranche of the TDF, this next phase of government support for tourism will focus on three areas to support the transformation of the tourism sector: (i) product development to ensure that Singapore remains a destination-of-choice for visitors; (ii) technology adoption and innovation to improve productivity; and (iii) enhancing manpower capabilities to ensure that our people have the right skills to benefit from industry growth.
Product development
12. First, we will continue to invest in the quality of our products to ensure that Singapore’s tourism landscape remains innovative and attractive to visitors. Some of these investments will be directed to niche sectors with high growth potential, like the cruise industry, which also generates significant spill-over economic benefits for ground handling services, bunkering, and ship repair. It is also an example of public-private partnership to diversify Singapore’s product offerings and pursue new avenues of growth.
13. Asia has emerged as the new growth frontier for cruise tourism, despite being a relatively young cruising region compared to the Caribbean and Mediterranean. In the past three years, the number of ships deployed in Asia grew at a CAGR of 10%; passenger volume grew even faster, at a CAGR of 34%[1].
14. Southeast Asia, with its cultural diversity and natural beauty, has benefitted from these broader trends. In 2015, it was projected to account for 50% of all port calls in the whole of Asia. In January this year, ASEAN member states co-launched the “Cruise Southeast Asia” Brand. Within this market, Singapore is the leading regional homeport, and the first Asian country to win the award for Cruise Destination of the Year in 2014[2].
15. Our cruise infrastructure capacity (berths) was doubled in 2012 with the opening of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore. That same year, STB also initiated the S$12 million Cruise Development Fund (CDF) to support cruise ship deployments out of Singapore. Between 2014 and 2015, cruise passenger throughput rose by 14% to reach 1 million. Cruise operators new to Southeast Asia, such as TUI which specialises in German-speaking cruises, have also committed to an inaugural deployment in Singapore.
16. STB’s partnership with industry will continue to evolve with changing needs. For example, STB is test-bedding the idea of supporting cruise charterers, including travel agents and event organisers, who have good distribution channels, are able to consolidate demand, and unlock greater spend.
17. The cruise industry is but one example of our broader effort to develop new tourism hardware and software. Lionel will share more on STB’s efforts to improve support for leisure and business events under the Leisure Events Fund (LEF) and Business Events in Singapore Fund (BEiS).
Technology adoption and innovation
18. Second, I would like to touch on the importance of harnessing technology and innovation to ensure that our tourism sector is well-positioned for the future. Technological developments are reshaping industries, disrupting business models, and profoundly changing the way we live, work and play. To stay relevant, we must be nimble and quick to adopt relevant new technologies.
19. For example, big data and predictive analytics present significant opportunities for the tourism sector. It can revolutionise the way we understand our visitors, their tastes and preferences, how we reach out to them, and tailor our products and services to meet their needs. Data from payment gateways, telecommunications companies, and booking platforms, for example, has the potential to provide invaluable insights about our visitors. And STB and industry can work together to deepen our expertise and capabilities in this area.
20. Robotics is another technology area that can be leveraged to increase productivity, and free our limited manpower to focus on high-touch activities. The use of the technology in the services sector is at a nascent stage but it is important that we invest early in trials and acquire a sophisticated understanding of its potential. I am therefore encouraged by the robotics project that Park Avenue Rochester Hotel will be implementing in July this year with STB’s support. It will involve the deployment of two robots for housekeeping and back-of-house functions such as transporting linen, refuse and bulky items. The robots rely on laser navigation software and controls that allow them to intelligently navigate their surroundings and unplanned obstacles. If successful, it could be extended to front-of-house functions such as the delivery of luggage and room service to guests. This is an excellent example of STB partnering industry to seek out innovative solutions and test-bed applications.
21. Retrofitting is another area that STB and hoteliers have identified to improve productivity. Through retrofitting works, hotels are better able to adopt and deploy technology-based productivity solutions, such as the centralization of back-of-house functions. Hence, STB will expand the scope of support under the Business Improvement Fund with time-limited Hotel Retrofitting Grant for hoteliers seeking to redesign their existing premises to implement productivity-enhancing solutions.
Manpower
22. Finally, we must ensure that our people are well-equipped to benefit from these developments. Our ultimate aim is to create good career opportunities for our people. And we have made good progress on this front with the hotel sector, for example.
23. Under the SkillsFuture effort, the tripartite partners are working closely with education and training institutions to equip Singaporeans with the requisite skillsets through the Hotel Sectoral Manpower Plan (SMP) launched last October. For example, through the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn programme, ITE and polytechnic graduates have the opportunity to undergo structured on-the-job and institution-based training. As of March 2016, 41 graduating polytechnic students have been offered places in 22 hotels under this programme.
24. The SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative will also support the next generation of Singaporean hotel leaders in developing the necessary leadership and management capabilities. This includes skills such as general management, cross-cultural team management, and exposure to local and global hotel operations.
25. Beyond the hotel sector, STB and the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), are working with industry partners on plans to attract, develop and retain talent across the tourism sector. Lionel will further elaborate.
Conclusion
26. Each year, the Tourism Industry Conference fosters engagement and learning between industry and government, and seeds new ideas and initiatives for growth. The three prongs I have outlined - product development, leveraging on technology, and upskilling the tourism workforce - will help sustain the long term competitiveness of our tourism industry, enable us to seize new opportunities, and create good jobs for Singaporeans.
27. To be effective, these initiatives need strong industry-government partnerships to harness the collective effort of all tourism industry stakeholders. I urge all of you to actively engage STB, with your ideas, effort and support, to contribute to our shared goal of building a vibrant tourism industry in Singapore and sustaining its growth.
28. On this note, I wish everyone a productive Tourism Industry Conference 2016 and a successful year ahead. Thank you.
[1] Based on the Asian Cruise Trends by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
[2] Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards