The Singapore Tourism Board denied recently at a press conference claims in a recent report indicating that Singapore is the most expensive country in the world.

Answering media questions, Leong Yue Kheong, assistant chief executive at the Singapore Tourism Board, said that the survey was done on expatriates in the country who talked of the high cost of living and working there. He rejected the statement that the report included tourists.

“The expatriates were referring to how expensive accommodation, vehicles and other facilities are because of the high taxes,” he explained. “However, the average taxi fare is a lot cheaper than in the major cities of Europe,” he added.

Kheong stressed that the report does not refer to tourists visiting Singapore for a few days and need public transportation. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Singapore has topped 131 cities globally to become the most expensive city to live in 2014.

The report said the city’s strong currency combined with the high cost of owning a car and soaring utility bills contributed to Singapore topping the list. It is also the most expensive place in the world to buy clothes.

In his speech, Singapore Ambassador to Riyadh, Lawrence Anderson, said that the Muslim community in Singapore, at 13 percent of the population, is an active and vibrant part of the society. They have contributed much to Singapore’s success in terms of lifestyle, heritage, culture and traditions.

According to him, Singapore is also the top halal destination among the OIC countries, making it one of the top destinations for Saudi tourists.

The envoy said that Saudi Arabia is the second largest trading partner in the Middle East. “The bilateral trade with Saudi Arabia has increased in recent years and in 2013, it amounted to 17.7 billion Singaporean dollars or SR53.1 billion,” he observed.

He said that Singapore receives the largest number of tourists from Saudi Arabia in the gulf countries. “In 2012, we received about 18,000 Saudi tourists,” he said adding that Singapore’s rich and multi-faceted relationship with Saudi Arabia has led to greater people-to-people exchanges and visitor arrivals.

The two countries enjoy a warm and friendly relationship, which encompasses close cooperation in trade and business as well as cultural exchange. He said high level visits of their political leaders to the Kingdom in recent years have resulted in increased cooperation in various fields.

The envoy said, “Singapore is set to receive a record number of Saudi tourists in 2014. In the first three quarters of last year alone, Singapore received 15,052 Saudi visitors, a 13 percent increase over the same period in the previous year.”



“Singapore welcomes Saudi visitors who increasingly come to experience our delicious food, rich culture, arts and, of course, world-class entertainment,” the envoy added.

15.5 million tourists visited Singapore in 2013, up by 7.2 percent from 2012. Tourism revenues also hit a new high of USD 18.7 billion, an increase of 1.6 percent in 2012.

Chief among Singapore’s recent attractions are its integrated resorts, the iconic Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa.

The number of Saudis traveling to Singapore to attend business meetings and conferences is also increasing. Asia’s top “convention city” for ten years in a row, Singapore plays host to world class platforms such as the Singapore International Water Week and the Singapore International Energy Week, conferences which attract heavy participation from the Middle East.