TRAVEL BEHAVIORS OF INBOUND BUSINESS TRAVELLERS TO SINGAPORE

Abstract

Business travel and tourism has been on the rise in many countries in recent years, including Singapore. In 2001, one in five of all visitors to Singapore come on business and this figure is expected to grow. To date, business travel and tourism research remains neglected in Singapore. The focus of this research is thus to examine the travel behaviors of this group of travellers, with the aim of understanding comprehensively how and why they travel to Singapore, and find out whether appropriate programmes can be effectively promoted to them from the tourism authorities' perspective. The findings show that majority of these business travellers come from the region and are a significant group of repeat visitors who come here frequently. They are mostly married males, aged 25 - 54, and are either professionals or managers, earning good incomes. Most of them are here for individual business trips and meetings, where business activities are usually carried out within non tourism-related premises. Expenses incurred are mostly paid for by their employers/companies/organizations. Majority come alone, or come with their colleagues/secretary or business associates. Singapore is their only destination i.e. they mostly return to their home country afterwards. Length of stay is a short one, two or three nights. Services of airlines, hotels and taxis are most often engaged and important sources of information used include the Internet and word of mouth channels. Travel patterns are also found to be related to the travellers' origins but not their age or occupation. In the concluding chapter, several recommendations tor the authorities are presented.