Study Tour - part II - Singapore

After six insightful days in the United Arab Emirates, the group continued their educational journey in Singapore. The first day was entirely dedicated to sightseeing, accompanied by our long-standing lecturer, Dr. John Fong. We explored the waterfront city at sunset by taking a boat trip from Clarke Quay to Marina Bay. Meanwhile, Dr. John Fong held a lecture on tourism in Singapore, providing a comprehensive insight into the city's tourist offerings and experiences.

On the following day, we visited the Sands Expo & Convention Center and gained insights into the significance of conferences and congress tourism in the city through a lecture on "The MICE-Industry in Southeast Asia" by experts from the Messe Berlin Asia team. Subsequently, we were warmly received for a tour of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. This hotel left a lasting impression not only due to its contemporary architecture and design, but also for the breathtaking views of the city's landmarks, including Marina Bay and the Gardens by the Bay, as well as the adjacent islands.

Next, we made a stop at the "Singapore City Gallery," where our tour guide, Magdeline Tan, and Dr. John Fong delivered speeches on urban and historic development. We gained insights into Singapore's history and culture. To better understand the cultural traditions, Magdeline Tan guided us through the highly tourist-attractive Chinatown district, where we visited places of worship and traditional markets, deepening our knowledge of Singapore's history and culture.

On the subsequent day, we visited the prestigious Ngee Ann Polytechnic University. Dr. Michael Chiam and Dr. Elaine Chiang from the School of Business & Accounting welcomed us and led us on a campus tour. Following that, they delivered a lecture on "Tourism Development in Singapore." Dr. Michael Chiam vividly illustrated how Singapore has evolved from a former colony into a leading city destination in Southeast Asia. An engaging Q&A session with the students led to an exciting discussion, making the university visit a enriching learning experience.

In the afternoon, we embarked on an exploration of Sentosa Island. This offshore island is often referred to as "Asia's favorite playground" and offers a wide range of leisure activities for locals and city visitors. In addition to this tourist attraction, we also visited some of the hotels in Singapore. The Raffles Hotel is undoubtedly the most famous traditional hotel in Singapore, and our visit provided insights into the luxury hotel industry in Singapore. We also explored a very modern concept, the boutique hotel Naumi. These examples vividly demonstrated how the city's hotel industry bridges the gap between tradition and modernity.

Next stop: Bali!