Singapore launches Muslim Visitors Guide

The guide features essential information on annual events, cultural districts of Singapore, major shopping areas and vital visitor advice written specifically for Muslim tourists.

It also features a list of restaurants certified by MUIS, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, so that visitors can comfortably find Halal food in a variety of Singaporean, Chinese, Malay, Indian and Middle Eastern eating places when they visit the country.

The guide is being supported by a new Arabic language version of the popular Visit Singapore website, which features online updates of new attractions and festivals taking place.

STB executives based in the region are confident that the guide will prove popular with Middle East residents looking to decide the location of their next holiday.

"Feedback from our large network of travel agents in the region has shown that there is a real demand for information about Singapore, so we decided to launch a bespoke guide especially for Muslim visitors," says Alan Tan, Area Director, Middle East and Africa, Singapore Tourism Board.

"We are anticipating a large volume of requests for the guide, particularly in countries like the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, from where we are welcoming increasing numbers of visitors to Singapore in the summer of 2006," he added.

The guide complements the Uniquely Singapore Muslim Visitor's Dining Guide, launched earlier this year, which contains an extensive range of Halal restaurants in Singapore, as well as a list of "Must Try" local dishes.

Over 14 percent of the population in Singapore is Muslim and the country has a long history of welcoming Muslim travelers from around the world. Singapore's Arab Street, which pre-dates the arrival of Europeans in the country, is one South East Asia's oldest ethnic Arab enclaves.

Copies of the new guide are available directly from Singapore Tourism Board or from their partners across the region.