Singapore Sun Festival to draw strong number of Middle East-based travelers

This annual multi-arts premium lifestyle festival celebrates The Art of Living Well, through several disciplines - music, visual arts, literature, film, cuisine and wellness. This year's festival is bigger than before, with more than 90 exhilarating events over a period of 10 days, featuring more than 350 regional and international artists and celebrities in some of Singapore's leading venues.

Mr Jason Ong, Area Director, Singapore Tourism Board said:

'Singapore continues to be a popular destination choice among Arab travelers due to the city's wide selection of events and activities to cater to every taste. The Singapore Sun Festival comes right after the inaugural 2008 Formula 1TM SingTel Singapore Grand Prix and the Singapore GP Season in September - another major attraction for guests from this region. These events are just a few examples that will add to the range of exclusive experiences Singapore has on offer, making it a truly world-class destination.'

The Singapore Sun Festival 2008 continues the international tradition of high quality events featuring stellar artists and unforgettable experiences that celebrate life and the art of living well.

Chairman of IMG Artists and Founder of the Sun Festival, Mr Barrett Wissman said, 'This year we are delighted and proud to be able to offer Festival audiences in Singapore even more unique and special premium experiences including a number of 'firsts' and world-premieres. The programme for the Singapore Sun Festival 2008 is extraordinary, with a line-up of incredible and world-class artists and events, in keeping with our aim to deliver premium international music and lifestyle events that are unique and fresh, and that also position Singapore as a truly global entertainment and lifestyle destination.'

The Festival begins with a Gala Opening Concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall where for the first time ever Academy Award-winning director and actor Robert Redford, the legendary grand dame of opera Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, and the renowned Vienna Boys Choir will share one stage.

Other key highlights for Arab guests include concerts by one of the world's finest orchestras - the Los Angeles Philharmonic - visiting Singapore for the first time with its Music Director, prominent Finnish conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Grammy-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman (26 October) among others.

For the discerning Arab gourmet traveler, the 2008 Festival will also include sumptuous cuisine in fabulous settings, involving world-renowned chefs, including the American culinary arts legend Charlie Trotter who will prepare an elegant five-course signature dinner event at the Straits Room of the Fullerton Hotel and also conduct a cooking demonstration at exclusive water-front restaurant Prive.

Local celebrity chef, Samia Ahad, will provide insights and guidance (as well as fun!) at her cooking classes in the intimate setting of Coriander Leaf's Cooking Studio.

For the art-lover, oil paintings by German-born abstract artist, Sibylle Szaggars at the Arts House, and works by acclaimed artist Hans Mendler at tcc (The Gallery) make up this year's Visual Arts programme.

The Festival will also present free outdoor screenings at the Singapore Botanic Gardens of films with a Singapore Sun Festival flavour.

Finally under the Wellness programme, Festival-goers can indulge in special Sun Festival spa treatments at the Festival's official spa, Spa Botanica; free yoga and taiji sessions along the waterfront; and yoga workshops conducted by international yoga instructors. Talks by wellness experts on taiji philosophy and practice, energy healing, and stress management with meditation and acupressure complete the programme.

The Singapore Sun Festival is the third and only Asian chapter of a global lifestyle brand owned by the international arts management group, IMG Artists. The Sun Festival is also celebrated annually in Cortona, Tuscany (Italy) and the Napa Valley, California (USA).

The Singapore Sun Festival is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board.