SINGAPORE : The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has started a new 52-week campaign to promote Singapore as the holiday weekend destination to travellers in the region.

There is a lot to do in Clarke Quay, which is why it is one of the attractions visitors should head to if they have limited time to visit Singapore.

One of the hottest night spots in Singapore, Clarke Quay attracts some 25,000 partygoers, and that is just on a normal weekend night.

When there is something happening, these numbers are boosted even further.

To boost visitor numbers to Singapore during the weekends, the STB has launched a campaign that targets tourists from seven cities - Bangkok, Chennai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur.

STB said these cities are nearby and Singapore is easy for them to get to.

Quek Swee Kuan, Deputy Chief Executive, International Operations, Singapore Tourism Board, said, "The key thing that we are really looking at is to increase hotel occupancy rate - weekend occupancy rate. As you are aware, Singapore attracts a lot of business travellers over weekdays. So for the weekend, the occupancy rate, while high, is not as high as weekdays.

"We are looking at 10 percent growth in occupancy rates over the weekend. Essentially we are targeting HMIs - highly mobile individuals - where after a week's hard work, (on impulse) they (would) call up a few friends and just come over."

Michael Ma, Group CEO, Indochine, said, "For the hoteliers and F&B businesses, it will be fantastic. It does bring vibrancy. People want to know why they should come to Singapore - I know it will help bring a lot of business to Singapore..."

One person commented, "I think I'm a party animal. I enjoy going out at night, especially (during) weekends. Discotheque is a place I like a lot and Singapore has a lot of new discotheques... so this place is complete."

Another added, "I like the weekends here in Singapore. There's (a) lot of opportunity here to go out anywhere you like - be it dining, wining, dancing."

Mr Ma said, "It's good clean fun and it's not as restricted as people make it out to be. People always think in Singapore, you can't do this and you can't do that, you get fined for this... (this is) all nonsense, it's (an) exaggeration... it's a very fun place."

And to help them party along, visitors will get special deals and discounts from party booklets.

They will also get party wrist bands which will give them priority entrances at clubs. - CNA/ms