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  Visit Singapore
Visit Singapore
welcome
by Preeti Khicha
February 4, 2010 issue

Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, and people from around the world. It offers a juxtaposition of tradition and modernity, with sleek towers that loom over hawker stalls and fortunetellers. And, like other popular destinations, tourism is an important part of the republic’s economy.
 
So it’s no surprise that Singapore has an online presence that introduces the city to prospective tourists and encourages veterans to return. The website www.visitsingapore.com offers a glimpse into a complex and compelling culture with sections that feature everything from practical information on where to stay to a grassroots blog where locals offer advice on where to eat.

The site’s current theme is “Singapore in Spring. Where Culture Meets Chic.” Indeed, the first three months of the year are an opportune time to visit Singapore, and the “Events in Spring” section has a video that showcases cultural events from Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown, to “The Merchants of Bollywood” play, the Fringe Festival, and more. But brace yourself; the video is vibrant and full of sweeping landscape shots complete with a beautiful guide and exploding fireworks.

The “Shop/Eat/Chill In Singapore” section underscores the many modern amenities Singapore offers in terms of shopping malls with luxury retailers such as Giorgio Armani, Prada, and Cartier. As far as eating is concerned, Singapore’s culinary scene is the confluence of ancient history and cultures with modern techniques and tastes. There is something for every palate. And the Jurong Bird Park and Sinema Old School – an indie cinema where you can watch “locally-produced” films – are ideal places to chill.

 
 
Visit Singapore The site, however, seems too focused on expressing the modernity of Sinagpore, at the expense of the city’s storied and compelling history. Singpore’s geographic location has made it a historical crossroads of humanity over time and the website should feature this important aspect of Singapore’s identity – though it does delve into Chinatown and the city’s strong Chinese influence.

Of course, it is difficult to capture the living soul of a location in a website, but visitsingapore.com does an admirable job of presenting its many attractions to tourist of every ilk – from shoppers to foodies. As far as learning about Singapore’s history, however, you’ll just have to visit the city yourself.

 

Preeti Khicha currently lives in Mumbai, India. She graduated from the University of Bath, UK, with a master's degree in management, specializing in marketing. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics and psychology from the University of Virginia, USA.

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*Due to the constantly changing environment of websites, some reviews may no longer reflect the current website for this brand.
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