The great Singapore sale to entice Middle East travellers

Now in its 15th year, the festival has become one of the highlights of Singapore's annual events calendar, with the entire city-state brimming with attractive offers, tempting rewards and exciting events.

During the sale, Middle East visitors can look forward to an eight-week 'shopathon,' enjoying discounts of up to 70 percent. From the central shopping boulevard of Orchard Road and Marina Bay to the city's shopping precincts, visitors will find fantastic deals on fashion, watches, jewellery and electronics, to name a few.

An annual favourite is the festival's launch event, the Great Singapore Shopping Challenge (GSS), which unites shopaholics from around the world as they pit their bargain-hunting skills against each other during a frenzied three-hour shopping spree.

Kicking off May 24, participants will weave their way through through three shopping malls and an ethnic precinct, grabbing the best buys from select product categories. The winning team that completes the challenge with the highest dollar savings will walk away with the grand prize of Dhs27,000.

Representing the UAE are Sally Tiffany and her husband Sam Cooray, winners of a radio promotion.

'The Great Singapore Sale has traditionally been one of the most popular times of the year for Middle East travellers to visit Singapore, as they get to enjoy a wide array of quality shopping discounts and promotions created especially for this season,' said Jason Ong, Area Director, Middle East and Africa, Singapore Tourism Board.

A Tourist Privilege Card has been created for people travelling to Singapore during this period and can be used to enjoy special discounts and promotions on shopping, sightseeing, dining and entertainment options in Singapore, which can be picked up at Singapore Visitor Centres, major hotels and attractions.

Shopping is a key tourism driver for Singapore and a major attraction for Middle East travellers. Last year alone, overseas visitors spent over Dhs10bn on shopping in Singapore, amounting to 27% of Singapore's total tourism receipts.