I-Singapore izithatha njengendawo yokuqala yezokuvakasha ngenxa yokwanda kwenani lezinto ezikhangayo ezitholakala kubavakashi. Kule minyaka eyishumi edlule, ezokuvakasha zase-Singapore ziye zazichaza kabusha ngokuqhubekayo, zengeza izinto ezintsha ezikhangayo njenge-Esplanade theatre, iminyuziyamu emisha njenge-Asian Civilization Museum noma ikusasa National Gallery, iFORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore Air Show, Singapore I-Flyer, ukuguqulwa kwe-Chinatown ngenqwaba yezitolo zokudla zasebusuku kakhulu noma ukulungiswa okuphelele komgwaqo u-Orchard onama-facade amasha acwebezelayo nezitolo ezinkulu.
Ngo-2010 nango-2011, ukuvulwa kwezindawo zokungcebeleka ezimbili ezididiyelwe zase-Singapore ezinamakhasino -Resort Worlds e-Sentosa ne-Southeast Asia unique Universal Studios kanye neSands Marina Bay- kuzomele kuthuthukise ukukhanga kwe-Singapore kubahambi bamazwe ngamazwe.
Ngokohlelo lwezokuvakasha, i-Singapore Tourism Board (STB) yayihlose ngo-2005 ingqikithi yabahambi bamazwe ngamazwe abayizigidi ezingu-17 ngo-2015 uma kuqhathaniswa nezigidi ezingu-8.9 ngo-2005 kanye nezigidi ezingu-10.1 ngo-2008. Inkinga cishe yayizoqeda iminyaka emithathu yokukhula. Izilinganiso ezintsha ezivela ku-STB zibikezela izivakashi zamazwe ngamazwe eziyizigidi eziyisi-9 kuye kweziyi-9.5 ngo-2009.
Kodwa-ke, uyazi futhi ukuthi izingxenye zokukhanga kwayo kubantu bakwamanye amazwe zivela ekuhlanganiseni kwayo nezinye izindawo esifundeni. “Sijwayele ukusebenzisana namazwe anikeza isipiliyoni esihlukile kulokho abahambi abazokuthola eSingapore. Iminyaka eminingi, sesivele sibambisene nezindawo ezifana ne-Bali noma i-Bintan e-Indonesia kanye ne-Australia,” kuchaza u-Chew Tiong Heng, umqondisi wezokumaketha kwendawo okuyiwa kuyo ye-STB.
ISingapore manje ibheke ngokukhula ukuzithuthukisa neChina. "Kuwenza umqondo kwezomnotho ukusebenza kwezinye izimakethe njengendlela yokungena e-Mainland China, ikakhulukazi kubahambi bebhizinisi, abahleli be-MICE noma emkhakheni wezemfundo njengoba singaba isingeniso esihle ezweni lamaShayina," kusho uChew.
Ukuphromotha amagugu amasiko avamile nomakhelwane kungase kube nzima nakakhulu. Kokubili i-Malaysia ne-Indonesia zihlale zilwa zodwa mayelana nezimangalo zezithombe zamasiko njenge-batik noma imidanso yesintu. NeMalaysia, i-Singapore ibona ukuthi kunokuningi okufanayo futhi ngenxa yalokho icophelela kakhulu endleleni yayo. “IMalaysia ingumakhelwane wethu oseduze njengoba sabelana ngomlando nezimpande ezifanayo. Kodwa sibheke ukukhangisa ndawonye nge-Mainland China ohambweni oluhlangene. Ngokuthuthukiswa kwendawo yethu entsha yokuvakasha yamazwe ngamazwe, sicabanga futhi ukuthi uhambo oluhlangene lwaseMalaysia-Singapore luzoba lulungele imisebenzi yesikhashana sokuhamba ngomkhumbi,” kunezela uChew.
I-Malacca ngasohlangothini lwaseMalaysia ingumphelelisi okahle eSingapore njengoba kungaba esikhathini esizayo iLegoland Park Malaysia eJohor Bahru. “Kudingeka sihlole izindlela eziningi zokuphromotha ndawonye amagugu avamile e-ASEAN. Ngokwesibonelo sinaleli gugu le-Peranakan eliyingqayizivele [ifa le-Sino-Malay elivela esifundeni] elitholakala kuphela e-Singapore, Malacca, Penang nasePerak. Singakwazi ukusebenzela abahambi abagxile emasikweni,” kusho uChew.
Ukuvakasha kwezemfundo nezempilo kungenzeka kukhulise ukubambisana namanye amazwe esifundeni. “ISingapore iyisango langempela le-Asia. Kungani ungezi kithi ngezizathu zempilo nezemfundo bese uphumule izinsuku ezimbalwa ePhuket, Bali noma eLangkawi, ”kucabanga uChew.
