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SINGAPORE : The hunt for bargains for the year-end holidays has started, as thousands thronged the first day of the NATAS (National Association of Travel Agents Singapore) Travel Fair.
Some 20,000 visitors checked out the fair at the Singapore Expo on the first day.
Travel agencies expect higher sales this year due to pent-up demand and an improving economy.
The queue started forming as early as 6.30am, even though the fair opened at 10am.
Despite the half-hour wait to get in, spirits were high as the visitors hunted for bargains and deals.
Asian destinations top the list - as they are nearer and offer a winter vacation.
"We're looking to travel to Korea and maybe Taiwan next year. So we hope to catch some good deals here," a visitor to the NATAS fair said.
"We're looking for packages to China. I heard the weather is quite okay," another said.
Travel agencies expect to see strong growth of 20 to 25 per cent in sales, compared with last year.
Alicia Seah, senior vice-president, Marketing & PR, CTC Holidays said: "Some significant events in the first half of 2010, like the World Cup and the Youth Olympic Games, saw a lot of Singaporeans actually staying in Singapore. So for the year-end, there's a pent-up demand to travel."
Eva Wu, Market and Communications manager, SA Tours, said: "The economy is picking up, so we can see more people are excited about travelling. They want to spend their holidays elsewhere. The economy is just getting better."
CTC Holidays expects to pull in S$10 million in sales during the fair. SA Tours declined to give figures.
With so many choices available, companies are pulling out all the stops to attract customers to their booths. For example, an F1 simulator was brought in by Etihad Airways, so customers can imagine themselves racing in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Nearly 1,100 booths have been set up.
NATAS, which organised the fair, expects 67,000 visitors for the three-day event. It hopes to pull in at least S$70 million in sales, compared with S$57 million last year.
- CNA/al
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