singapore 1998 tourism

Tourism and the Southeast Asian crises of 1997 and 1998: A view from Singapore

• Geography, Planning, and Recreation

Research output : Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Singapore has historically stood out as an economic anomaly among countries in the developing world. Its per capita income was higher than most industrialised countries, its government was relatively uncorrupt, and despite the economic difficulties experienced throughout Asia starting in 1997, it was still rated as one of the safest places in the world for investments. Starting in 1997 and extending through 1998, Singapore was hit by three major crises: the currency turmoil affecting its neighbours (especially Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia); the El Nino-driven forest fires on Borneo and Sumatra that filled Singapore's air with brown smoke; and the political and social crises in Malaysia and Indonesia. These three crises brought international, intra-regional and domestic tourism in Southeast Asia to a near standstill. Singapore received some benefits from these problems as currency from neighbouring countries flew into Singapore in search of a safe haven, thereby supporting the Singapore dollar, and ethnic Chinese and others flew to Singapore to escape both the choking smoke from forest fires and the political unrest in Indonesia, and filled Singapore's hotels. Singapore weathered these varied crises quite well, and ultimately Singapore may emerge in an even stronger position as the economic powerhouse of Southeast Asia.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

• Geography, Planning and Development
• Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management

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• 10.1080/13683509908667858

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• Asian Crisis Business & Economics 100%
• Singapore Social Sciences 75%
• tourism Earth & Environmental Sciences 73%
• currency Earth & Environmental Sciences 71%
• Tourism Social Sciences 69%
• Southeast Asia Earth & Environmental Sciences 59%
• forest fire Earth & Environmental Sciences 57%
• smoke Earth & Environmental Sciences 54%

T1 - Tourism and the Southeast Asian crises of 1997 and 1998

T2 - A view from Singapore

AU - Lew, A. A.

N2 - Singapore has historically stood out as an economic anomaly among countries in the developing world. Its per capita income was higher than most industrialised countries, its government was relatively uncorrupt, and despite the economic difficulties experienced throughout Asia starting in 1997, it was still rated as one of the safest places in the world for investments. Starting in 1997 and extending through 1998, Singapore was hit by three major crises: the currency turmoil affecting its neighbours (especially Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia); the El Nino-driven forest fires on Borneo and Sumatra that filled Singapore's air with brown smoke; and the political and social crises in Malaysia and Indonesia. These three crises brought international, intra-regional and domestic tourism in Southeast Asia to a near standstill. Singapore received some benefits from these problems as currency from neighbouring countries flew into Singapore in search of a safe haven, thereby supporting the Singapore dollar, and ethnic Chinese and others flew to Singapore to escape both the choking smoke from forest fires and the political unrest in Indonesia, and filled Singapore's hotels. Singapore weathered these varied crises quite well, and ultimately Singapore may emerge in an even stronger position as the economic powerhouse of Southeast Asia.

AB - Singapore has historically stood out as an economic anomaly among countries in the developing world. Its per capita income was higher than most industrialised countries, its government was relatively uncorrupt, and despite the economic difficulties experienced throughout Asia starting in 1997, it was still rated as one of the safest places in the world for investments. Starting in 1997 and extending through 1998, Singapore was hit by three major crises: the currency turmoil affecting its neighbours (especially Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia); the El Nino-driven forest fires on Borneo and Sumatra that filled Singapore's air with brown smoke; and the political and social crises in Malaysia and Indonesia. These three crises brought international, intra-regional and domestic tourism in Southeast Asia to a near standstill. Singapore received some benefits from these problems as currency from neighbouring countries flew into Singapore in search of a safe haven, thereby supporting the Singapore dollar, and ethnic Chinese and others flew to Singapore to escape both the choking smoke from forest fires and the political unrest in Indonesia, and filled Singapore's hotels. Singapore weathered these varied crises quite well, and ultimately Singapore may emerge in an even stronger position as the economic powerhouse of Southeast Asia.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033919139&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033919139&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/13683509908667858

DO - 10.1080/13683509908667858

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0033919139

SN - 1368-3500

JO - Current Issues in Tourism

JF - Current Issues in Tourism

Tourism and the Southeast Asian crises of 1997 and 1998: A view from Singapore

Secondary Title

Current Issues in Tourism

financial crisis, tourism market, tourist destination, Singapore

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Other publications.

ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystem

Author: Environment Division

09 January 2016

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The Tourist Review

ISSN : 0251-3102

Article publication date: 1 March 1999

In the mid 1990's the East Asia/ Pacific region was looking forward to an unprecedented period of tourism growth. Tourism is subject like any other industry to external economic forces and the successful implementation of tourism strategy is dependent on a continuing favourable economic climate. Signs of the economic timebomb in the Asia Pacific region had been evident, but largely ignored. The impact of the economic crisis has meant that at least in the short to medium term optimistic tourism projections have been put on hold. This paper looks at the background to the Asian financial crisis and the impact that it has had on tourism strategy in Singapore. It highlights both the problems and opportunities which have arisen as a result.

Cave, P. (1999), "The impact of the Asian economic crisis on tourism in Singapore", The Tourist Review , Vol. 54 No. 3, pp. 50-54. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb058315

Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited

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Asian financial crisis (1997–1998)

Singapore infopedia.

The Asian financial crisis started in Thailand with the collapse of the Thai baht in July 1997. What began as a currency crisis soon affected the wider economy and spread quickly to the rest of the region, leading to economic downturns in several countries. Singapore was not directly hit but suffered the spill-over effects of the economic slowdown, 1 and fell into recession in the second half of 1998. Realising that stimulating domestic demand was not a viable option in a downturn caused by external circumstances, the Singapore government implemented various measures to help ease the cost burden on businesses and individuals. 2 Background The Thai baht was the target of intense speculative attacks just before it collapsed in July 1997. 3 For a while, the Thai government managed to defend the currency, which had been pegged to the United States (US) dollar. However on 2 July 1997, it announced that it would no longer intervene and would allow the baht to float. The sharp depreciation of the baht against the US dollar began that same day. 4 This immediately triggered panic among investors, and other regional currencies such as the Philippine peso, Indonesian rupiah and Malaysian ringgit also began to experience selling pressure. Soon, foreign investors lost confidence in not only the currencies but also in those economies that had, what they saw, weak fundamentals. 5 In countries most affected by the crisis, banks and other companies collapsed or had to be rescued, and many others were forced to downsize, resulting in massive unemployment. In Indonesia, the crisis even led to the resignation of then president Suharto. 6 Impact on Singapore’s economy Given its close economic links with other Asian countries, Singapore could not escape the effects of the financial crisis facing its regional neighbours despite strong economic fundamentals. 7 From a healthy eight percent growth rate registered in 1997, Singapore’s growth fell to a dismal 1.5 percent in 1998. 8 The impact on Singapore was indirect but wide-ranging. 9 Growth also slowed across many industries between 1997 and 1998. The manufacturing sector contracted by 0.5 percent in 1998, down from a 4.5-percent growth recorded a year earlier. The growth of the construction industry fell to 3.9 percent from 1997’s 15 percent. The commerce sector also shrank by four percent in 1998, a drop from the 5.7 percent growth in 1997. In 1998, the financial and business sector experienced a moderate growth of 3.1 percent, down from 11.3 percent reached in 1997, while the transport and communications sector grew by 5.5 percent, a substantial drop from the 9.2 percent achieved in 1997. 10 Singapore’s labour market also took a hit with unemployment rate rising to 3.2 percent in 1998. On average, 62,800 people were unemployed in 1998, compared with 34,800 in 1997. Poor performance across various industry sectors, namely manufacturing, commerce, construction, and transport and communications, led to the retrenchment of 28,300 workers in 1998, the highest ever recorded since the last economic recession in 1985, which saw 19,529 workers laid off. 11 Company closures and downsizing also led to lower demand for commercial, industrial and residential properties, which put downward pressure on property prices and rentals. 12 Stock prices fell and this had a negative wealth effect which further weakened consumer sentiment. 13 Because Singapore’s petrochemical industry catered mainly to Asia, the regional economic slowdown meant lower demand for Singapore’s oil domestic exports, which fell sharply by 15.3 percent in 1998. Non-oil domestic exports still grew, but at a slower rate of 0.9 percent. As manufacturers contended with weaker demand in both regional and local markets, the manufacturing sector contracted slightly by 0.6 percent in 1998. 14 The financial services sector, on the other hand, was one of the worst hit industries and registered a sharp contraction of 7.4 percent in 1998. 15 Reflecting the poor economic outlook for Singapore and the erosion of confidence in the regional economies, banks curbed their local and offshore lending activities and generally lent less to both companies and individuals. 16 Also badly affected were the wholesale and retail trade sector, and the hotel and restaurant sector, which contracted by 4.1 percent and 7.5 percent respectively in 1998. 17 In addition, visitor arrivals fell sharply due to the economic slowdown in the regional markets, where most of Singapore’s visitors were from, 18 and the strengthening of the Singapore dollar against various regional currencies. 19 With weaker domestic spending and fewer foreign visitors, retail sales (excluding motor vehicle sales) fell 8.6 percent in volume and 9.2 percent in value in 1998. 20 Food and beverage outlets, likewise, reported a drop in business. 21 Hotels saw a significant decline in their average occupancy rates 22 and resorted to lowering room rates to boost occupancies, leading to a 19.4 percent drop in room revenue in 1998. 23 The government’s response The Singapore government implemented a host of measures in 1998 with two key objectives: lower business costs and provide relief to individuals and households. Some of these were in place until 1999 and others until 2000. 24 The 1998 budget did not include strong measures to counter the effects of the regional financial crisis as the economy was still doing well when it was announced in February 1998. 25 It did, however, include measures to help lower business costs, such as a 15-percent property tax rebate for commercial and industrial properties, property tax exemption of up to five years for land under development, and the removal of stamp duty on all instruments except those related to stock and shares, and immovable properties. Individuals and households also received help, such as a five-percent personal income tax rebate, and rebates on service and conservancy charges and rentals on Housing and Development Board flats. 26 Subsequently, regional economic conditions deteriorated and the outlook for Singapore worsened. In response, the government announced a package of off-budget measures in June 1998 worth S$2 billion. 27 To reduce business costs, the package included an additional 40-percent property tax rebate for commercial and industrial properties, reduced rents, rental rebates on various government properties, as well as lower telecommunications tariffs. 28 It also provided specific measures to mitigate the effects of the economic slowdown on the property market. 29 For example, government land sales were suspended and successful tenderers were allowed to re-assign government land sale parcels if they were unable financially to complete their development. 30 As Singapore slipped into recession in the second half of 1998, the government announced another package worth S$10.5 billion in November, aimed at further reducing costs for businesses by 15 percent. 31 A major component was a 10-percent cut in employers’ Central Provident Fund contribution rate. Other key measures included a 10-percent corporate tax rebate, wage reduction of five to eight percent, and cuts in a wide range of government rentals, rates and fees. 32 Recovery By early 1999, the Singapore economy had begun to show signs of recovery. 33 In the first quarter of that year, the economy returned to positive growth, powered by a strong rebound in the manufacturing sector. Retrenchments during the quarter also declined. The recovery was sustained through the year and overall gross domestic product for 1999 grew by 7.2 percent, much higher than the government’s initial forecast of between -1 percent and +1 percent. 34 Author Valerie Chew References 1. “FY1998: Budget,” Ministry of Finance, 13 May 2008 (From NLB’s Web Archive Singapore ); Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 (Singapore: Ministry of Finance, 1998), 2, 11–12, 22, 100–03. (Call no. RSING 330.95957 ESS); Gerald Tan, The Asian Currency Crisis (Singapore: Times Academic Press, 2000), 1, 51–52, 4–86. (Call no. RSING 332.095 TAN) 2. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 14, 49–60. 3. Ministry of Finance, “FY1998: Budget”; Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 22. 4. Ministry of Finance, “FY1998: Budget”; Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 11–12, 22; Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 51, 66. 5. Ministry of Finance, “FY1998: Budget”; Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 2, 22. 6. Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 1–2, 99, 120–22.  7. Ministry of Finance, “FY1998: Budget”; Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 100–03. 8. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 14, 16; Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 106, 137. 9. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 100–03. 10. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 14–17. 11. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 21, 24. 12. Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 136. 13. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 100; Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 136. 14. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1997 , 90, 103. 15. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 2002 (Singapore: Ministry of Finance, 2002), 90. (Call no. RSING 330.95957 ESS) 16. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 (Singapore: Ministry of Finance, 1999), 16. (Call no. RSING 330.95957 ESS) 17. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 2002 , 90. 18. Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, Singapore Annual Report on Tourism Statistics 2000 (Singapore: Singapore Tourism Board, 2001), 10. (Call no. RSING 338.47915957 SARTS-[AR]); Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 158. 19. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 14; Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 85. 20. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 2002 , 116, 117. 21. Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, Singapore Annual Report on Tourism Statistics 2000 , 19 ; Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 159. 22. Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, Singapore Annual Report on Tourism Statistics 2000 , 16–17, 54; Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 159. 23. Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, Singapore Annual Report on Tourism Statistics 2000 , 58 . 24. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 49–60. 25. Narendra Aggarwal, (1998, March 5). “ Absence of Tax Cuts Disappoints Business Sector ,” Straits Times,  5 March 1998 , 45. (From NewspaperSG); Ministry of Finance, “FY1998: Budget”; Ngiam Kee Jim, Coping with the Asian Financial Crisis: The Singapore Experience (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2000), 16. (Call no. RSING 332.4095957 NGI) 26. Aggarwal, Absence of Tax Cuts Disappoints Business Sector ”; Ministry of Finance, “FY1998: Budget”; Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 52–53. 27. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 54; Ngiam, Coping with the Asian Financial Crisis , 16. 28. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 54; Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 202. 29. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 55–56. 30. Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 202; Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 56. 31. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 57–70; Ngiam, Coping with the Asian Financial Crisis , 17. 32. Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 57–60; Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 202; Ngiam, Coping with the Asian Financial Crisis , 17. 33. Walter Fernandez, “ Recession Over but It’s Not Time to Rejoice ,” Straits Times,  20 May 1999, 1. (From NewspaperSG); Singapore. Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey of Singapore, 1998 , 57–60; Tan, Asian Currency Crisis , 202. 34. Walter, “ Recession Over but It’s Not Time to Rejoice .” Further resources Andrew Berg, “ The Asia Crisis: Causes, Policy Responses, and Outcomes ” (International Monetary Fund Working Paper no. 99/138, International Monetary Fund, October 1999)

Callum Henderson, Asia Falling?: Making Sense of the Asian Currency Crisis and Its Aftermath (Singapore: McGraw-Hill, 1998). (Call no.: RSING 332.456095 HEN) The information in this article is valid as at 30 July 2016 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject.

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Singapore 1998.

In 1998, the Republic of Singapore was a small island city-state located in Southeast Asia with a population of approximately 3.6 million people. The official language was English and the currency was the Singapore Dollar. The government was a parliamentary republic headed by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who had been in office since 1990. Singapore’s economy in 1998 relied heavily on manufacturing and services, making it one of the most prosperous countries in Asia. Banking and finance also played an important role; Singapore was home to many regional headquarters for major international banks. Education was highly valued in Singapore; literacy rates were higher than average for East Asian countries at around 95%. Overall, although Singapore faced economic challenges due to its small size and geographic isolation, its strong economy and strategic location provided hope for a bright future. See dentistrymyth for Singapore in the year of 2015.

Yearbook 1998

Singapore. Although Singapore was less affected by the Asian crisis than many other countries, the region’s stagnation caused business losses and shrinking tourism. The number of tourists was estimated at 6 million against 7.1 million in 1997. According to Countryaah , the capital of Singapore is Singapore. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong predicted weak or no economic growth at all over the next few years compared to almost 8% in 1997. He described the country’s trials as the worst since independence in 1965.

The Small Workers ‘Party Workers’ Party (WP) leader JB Jeyaretnam, one of Parliament’s only three opposition members, was ordered by the court in July to pay the equivalent of SEK 470,000. in damages to Prime Minister Goh for an opinion ahead of the 1997 election which he found to be derogatory. The politics of Singapore are completely dominated by Goh’s PAP (People’s Action Party) and sentiments against opponents are common.

• Abbreviationfinder : What does SGP stand for in geography? Here, this 3 letter acronym refers to the country of Singapore.

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The government announced in February 2006 that it would share $ 2.6 billion out to the country’s inhabitants who were accumulated government surpluses from previous years. The opposition condemned the move as an open attempt to buy votes in the May elections.

Lee Hsien’s ruling Popular Action Party won the first “real” parliamentary elections in May. Ie elections in which more than one candidate was elected in each district. The election confirmed the prime minister’s popularity and his party got 82 of the parliament’s 84 seats.

In September 2008, the Supreme Court of Singapore sentenced Far Eastern Economic Review to pay compensation to Prime Minister Lee Hsien and his father Lee Kuan Yew for a 2006 article. methods of governing the country and holding down the opposition. In 2010, Lee Hsien and his father Lee Kuan Yew threatened the New York Times with legal action following an article in the International Herald Tribune . The article suggested that the title of Prime Minister had been inherited from father to son, and not because of Lee Hsien’s political merits. The New York Times ended up paying US $ 114,000 to the two prime ministers. Singapore has a close relationship with the US, participates in the US ‘war on terror’, and has participated with soldiers in the US occupation of Iraq. In its World Report 2010, Human Rights Watch named Singapore as the school example of a repressive state. The human rights organization referred to the country’s violent repression of the opposition and draconian national security laws.

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