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The 'Phoren' Bug

OUT of the 7.14 million tourists who made a beeline for Singapore last year, 1,88,524 were Indians, registering a growth of 8.5per cent over 1994.

OUT of the 7.14 million tourists who made a beeline for Singapore last year, 1,88,524 were Indians, registering a growth of 8.5per cent over 1994. The total spending by the Indians in the city was $273 million and, believe it or not, Indians had the highest per capita spend at $939. In 1994, the Indians were the second highest spenders behind South Africans. While just plain holidaying was the purpose of 33 per cent of the visitors, business followed at 21 per cent; and of the activities engaged in while touring Singapore, shopping came high on the list at 83 per cent followed by sightseeing, 56 per cent, and business, 42 per cent. Says Vimal Harnal, general manager South West Asia of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board: "Duty free shopping is the main attraction for the majority of the Indians travelling to Singapore. While 37 per cent of past travellers cite that as the reason, it's the main reason for nearly 50 per cent of the potential market also." In terms of popularity, clothes and electronic items topped the shopping lists (52.2 per cent) followed by cosmetics, toys and watches.

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