Singapore and The Middle East

2573 Views 103 Replies 8 Participants Last post by RafflesCity, Sep 26, 2006

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2005

Hi, well I found this interesting and in many ways (mid east especially gulf countries pose a threat to the Singaporean tourism industry), it's true. Now I'll post the article here and we can debate it, although I'd have to say that the reason given for givin the casinos the green light is lame. Enjoy:

SINGAPORE: The Middle East, backed by its vast oil wealth to build mega tourist drawcards, is now a strong rival in the race to attract more foreign visitors, Singapore's former premier Goh Chok Tong said yesterday.

Apart from neighbouring countries, Singapore now has to also contend with the challenge from the region which is rapidly diversifying its economy away from the oil sector, said Goh, who is now senior minister after stepping down in August.

"They are not just targeting Arab dollars but tourists from around the world," Goh, 63, said in a speech in parliament.

"So it is not just Singapore competing with Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China for tourism.

"We are also competing against Dubai, Qatar and other countries in the Middle East."

It is therefore in Singapore's long-term economic interest to give the green light for two casino resorts to be built, Goh said.

The casino projects, which was given the go-ahead by the government on Monday, has sparked a strong public outcry in the city-state since the idea was first floated last year.

"Dubai and Qatar are not re-inventing themselves. They are inventing themselves in a big and bold way," Goh said.

"The world is moving on. It is a wide open world. Do we want to be left behind?"

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huaiwei

· #2 · Apr 21, 2005

The reason for building the casinos is lame?

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 21, 2005

Well, wasn't there a huge debate about not building these things. I mean there are other ways to improve economically, doesn't have to be a casino. The mid east ain't dependin on casinos to boost their economies.

huaiwei

· #4 · Apr 21, 2005

And whats the big deal about a casino? They are just "formal" places of gambling...not as if Singaporeans dont gamble all their lives all over the place anyway....

Those ppl saying it shouldnt be built keeps saying the same point as mentioned above. Its beginning to bore me.

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 21, 2005

huaiwei said:
Those ppl saying it shouldnt be built keeps saying the same point as mentioned above. Its beginning to bore me.

What point your exactly talkin about? Hehe don't you just love debate, seems your quite used to it

.

huaiwei

· #6 · Apr 21, 2005

Haha....nvm......

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 21, 2005

so I take it your in support of the casino thing? Many of my singaporean friends are quite opposed to it. What's your opinion on it?

huaiwei

· #8 · Apr 21, 2005

Hmm.....when the debate started, I couldnt care less...just a little amused to imagine the casinos here. Now, I am quite for the idea, not because of the casinos (I still couldnt care less about them. I wont be going there to gamble, partly bec of my religious believes, and partly bec of my upbringing, but hey, why should I stop others who want to gamble?), but because of the IRs. Well of coz ppl keep saying why not have the IRs without the casinos. My response...if that is possible, why arent the IRs coming until the casino idea pops up?

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 21, 2005

Aha, I see, well what I really found interesting is that since that article mentioned that the countries in that region are kinda improvin everythin for tourism, but when it comes to casinos, I suppose Macau will reign, but Singapore is much better as a country so that could have a plus there.

No one seems to love Sentosa though hehe, everyone I ask, he's like, Sentosa and goes on and on sayin how tacky that place is hehe.

huaiwei

· #10 · Apr 21, 2005

Yeah I hate Sentosa because of its $2 entry fee. You have to realise just how picky Singaporeans are!

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 21, 2005

Ok, am bound to ask you this question, do you agree with the above article? I've had debates with my flatmate (he's from Singapore) about it.

huaiwei

· #12 · Apr 21, 2005

I have no idea. For some reason, the government has lately picked on the Middle East as Singapores economic competitor, as opposed to China just a few years ago. First they mentioend the airport...then the airline...then the shipping lines...and then the oil industry...and now tourism and everything else?

Maybe its jus a way to galvanise Singaporeans to work their butts off even more than before?

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 21, 2005

Well it's been said for a while that Singapore is a model to be followed, basically it sets a benchmark for what should be achieved, and now, let me not say the Middle East but the gulf countries cause there is a huge difference really, are takin the path Singapore took and they want to even go further, most noticeably Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.

My flatmate always complains that Singapore is not movin forward due to a lot of reasons one of them basically the increase in the number of Malays (not to offend anyone here) and the fact that they're very lazy. Also he fears that once Malaysia fully develops (~ 20 years behind Singapore), that'll be the end of Singapore.

Your thoughts and if anyone else wants to join?

huaiwei

· #14 · Apr 21, 2005

Hmm....was Singapore singled out that much as a "model" of sorts? For Singapore's first 2 decades, Switzerland was the "model" we tried to emulate. A few days ago, our "model" has shifted to London and Shanghai. :lol: Wierd.

Well, I have always noticed quite alot of Singaporeans display this self-defeatist behavior and thinking. Things like our competition moving forward and we arent...that the gap is closing, and spells the end of Singapore...and blah blah blah. Same old stories. I think its about time mindsets are changed. We dont hv to be number 1 all the time, and still be a successful little country where people can live comfortably and in peace.

As for that Malay comment...hm....I got a feeling your friend isnt exactly very diplomatic is he?

Whats his educational level, may I ask?

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 21, 2005

Well my friend is goin to finish his second bachelors degree now in Law (am finishin mine same time as his, my first though), his first was in Psychology. He's quite educated, don't worry about that hehe. He's about 7 years older than me (27 soon and am 21 in September) and has experienced it all I'd have to say, knowin him for 3 solid years now.

Well Sinaporeans am sure want their country to stay at top, just like anyone else, the sense of patriotism kicks in.

What do you think will happen in the future for Singapore, well it maintain it's top position in terms of bein the hub of south east asia, etc. ? I know in biomedicine and health related fields, Singapore is a world leader.

Pengui

· #16 · Apr 21, 2005

I don't think middle-east should be seen as a competitor. Maybe it can eat some shares on oil and container transit activity but I think that's about all. It should be seen as a new collaboration and investment partner for Singapore, as basically a city like Dubai is doing the same job of being an economic hub, but in a different region.

As for tourism, I don't think people will go to middle east or Singapore for the same reasons ^^

RafflesCity

· #17 · Apr 21, 2005

The growth of the Middle East as an airhub will definitely compete with Singapore's tourism industry, also because the likes of Emirates are now able to use longer-distance aircraft that can fly nonstop from Dubai to Australia and bypass Singapore. I am sure with all the high publicity given to developments there, more of the world will want to go there. I was in transit in Dubai in 1995 and I had the impression then that it was nothing but a desert city in the middle of nowhere!

The airport then wasnt impressive either except the shopping mall. I am sure all that is changing now.

However that said, the government here is aware of this, and there are now a lot of ambitious plans being churned out and implemented at a pace not seen until recently.
The 2 resort-casinos are just one of these and with India and China providing a huge reservoir of tourist potential not to mention Singapore's relative proximity to them, there is a lot of potential.

Bahraini Spirit

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 22, 2005

I do agree with the air thing, one reason why SIA won't fly to Bahrain is that it has fierce competition from Gulf Air when it opened it's route to Singapore. For a lot of ppl, it seems that Dubai is eatin out Singapore's glory slowly. That is a debatable statment although I'd have to say, in a way it's kinda true.

There is a lot of collaboration goin on between the Gulf and Singapore. For example, a few FTA talks are goin on, Bahrain just signed a free skies agreement with Singapore, Singapore financial delegation wants to learn from Bahrain's experience in Islamic Banking, Singapore wants to help Bahrain develop its conventions and exhibitions sector (MICE), etc.

As for the point mentioned about bunkering, Fujairah is now the second busiest port for that after Singapore, just surpassed Rotterdam.

This sense of competetion and the continous collaboration will just make things much better for both sides.

huaiwei

· #19 · Apr 22, 2005

Bahraini Spirit said:
Well my friend is goin to finish his second bachelors degree now in Law (am finishin mine same time as his, my first though), his first was in Psychology. He's quite educated, don't worry about that hehe. He's about 7 years older than me (27 soon and am 21 in September) and has experienced it all I'd have to say, knowin him for 3 solid years now.

Well Sinaporeans am sure want their country to stay at top, just like anyone else, the sense of patriotism kicks in.

What do you think will happen in the future for Singapore, well it maintain it's top position in terms of bein the hub of south east asia, etc. ? I know in biomedicine and health related fields, Singapore is a world leader.

Wow...for his education level, I am a tad surprised that he would be make some of those comments.

Especially the one on lazy Malays pulling the sg economy down!

Pengui

· #20 · Apr 22, 2005

Bahraini Spirit said:
For a lot of ppl, it seems that Dubai is eatin out Singapore's glory slowly. That is a debatable statment although I'd have to say, in a way it's kinda true.

Why ? Would you care to elaborate ?

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