Exactly thirty years ago, on this same date and time, I inaugurated our first tourism logo, the Merlion at the mouth of the Singapore River. The idea was derived from the famous Mermaid at Copenhagen.

The Merlion has become a well-known landmark for tourists and Singaporeans alike. It has become our mascot that marks Singapore as a top tourist destination.

Singapore had little to offer: a quaint former British colony, with some pre-war colonial buildings, Chinese-style shop houses and temples, Malay kampongs and mosques, Indian quarters and Hindu temples. We lacked natural and historical attractions. No one believed Singapore could become a major tourist destination.

We promoted our unique features of a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-religious society, each with its own traditions and history, and a wide variety of lifestyles and leisure activities. We also positioned ourselves as a gateway to the region’s rich diversity.

What attracts tourists to Singapore has changed with time. The kinds of tourists have also changed. They expect good, courteous service, and a clean environment. Thirty years ago, tourists came to see the attractive remains of a British military and trading outpost. Among their favourite sites at present are Chinatown, Little India, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Sentosa, Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari. But we have to upgrade and renew ourselves to be fresh and attractive to tourists. Many, especially those from China and India, want to see what kind of an international hub we have become besides having old, colonial and ethnic enclaves of Singapore refurbished, preserved and converted to other uses.

Our visitors now come from ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand, China, Japan, India, Europe and America. Larger numbers of tourists now come from Asia, especially China. We must give them value for money. What must never change is the warm and hospitable welcome tourists expect.

When the Singapore Tourism Board was formed in 1964, tourist arrivals were only 91,000. 37 years later, in 2001 it has exceeded seven and a half million. The future for the industry is good if the travel-and-tourism industry is good. Based on third party projections of the World Tourism Organisation, visitor arrivals to Singapore are expected to exceed 10 million by 2010. At the same time, the World Travel and Tourism Council projects the direct and indirect contribution of tourism to Singapore’s GDP to reach close to 12% in the next ten years.

The original prominent location of the Merlion was eclipsed by the new bridge across the Singapore River. The spirit of change and continuity that has characterised the making of modern Singapore can be seen in its move to this new home.

May it also mark a new chapter in making Singapore into a major tourist hub.

I now declare the new Merlion Park open.

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