Relax - Fewer visitors but record $63m Natas sales

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NEVER mind the drop in visitorship this year – organisers of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas) fair saw its sales figures scale a new high.

Although 62,000 people turned up for the three-day fair over the weekend at Singapore Expo – a dip of 3,000 from the August fair last year – chief executive officer Robert Khoo said the agencies have already clinched about $63 million as of press time. This figure trounced the record $60 million bagged in August.

Mr Khoo said that the spike was largely due to the pent-up demand for long-haul destinations. “Our target was actually $50 million, so this was a pleasant surprise,” he told my paper.

While Singaporeans’ top travel picks remain Asian – Japan and China are No. 1 and No. 2 respectively – Europe is a popular choice at No. 3, said Ms Rina Lim, an executive of communications and special projects at Natas.

Travel agencies also say Singaporeans are getting more adventurous. At CTC Holidays, which saw a 20 per cent sales rise above an expected $8 million, customers are asking for new locales.

Ms Alicia Seah, its senior vice-president of marketing and public relations, said that 40 per cent of its clients who had visited Japan before are eschewing traditional locales like Tokyo and Hokkaido for unusual ones such as Kyushu and the Alpine Route.

Shanghai is another hot spot, with CTC registering a 50 per cent rise in sales of its packages there when compared to the first quarter of last year.

Ms Seah said it was because the Chinese city is the venue of World Expo this year, which makes it a magnet for corporate, educational and leisure travellers.

Over at Chan Brothers, it received more enquiries about its Europe packages, said Ms Jane Chang, assistant manager of marketing communications.

However, despite the rising popularity of long-haul trips, most still opt to be nearer to home, she added.

Mr See Khoon Lay, 66, a support officer who was at the fair with his wife, booked a Genting package, as he had done last March.

He was also scouting for a good deal to tour China. He said: “I’ve never been to China, and I’d like to visit the place. So why not just give it a go?”

pamelac@sph.com.sg

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Fewer visitors but record $63m Natas sales

By Pamela Chow, my paper | Mon, Mar 1 2010

$63m sales figure trounce the record $60m bagged in August last year.

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natas