Tourists give local businesses a big boost

15 Feb 2017

The Straits Times, 15 Feb 2017 - According to the Singapore Tourism Board, tourists spent $4.3 billion on shopping between January and September last year. This is a nearly 50 per cent rise from the same period in 2015. Tourists are turning to “mass market” goods such as confectionery, gifts and souvenirs, and fashion and accessories, as opposed to globally available luxury items. Such items can be found in local souvenir shops such as Supermama. Mr Amos Tan, Head of retail and marketing at SP’s Business School, opined that Singapore brands tend to do well because consumers are looking for novelty.