The Leisure Travel And Tourism In Singapore Tourism Essay

The Leisure Travel And Tourism In Singapore Tourism Essay International tourism has grown substantially over the years due to rising standard of living, technological advancement and globalization. Tourism is also one of the key industries with a significant impact on the global economy (Tham, 2006). In the case of Singapore, it received 10.3 million visitors and a total expenditure of $14.1 billion in year 2007 compared to 9.8 million visitors and a total expenditure of $12.4 billion in year 2006 (Singapore Tourism Board, 2007) during good economy. The increased in the arrival of visitors had also contributed a substantial growth in other tourism related industries such as the hotel industry which had seen increased in room revenue of 23.5% at $1, 857.6 million versus $1, 503.9 million in year 2006; food and beverages industry shown growth by 33.7% at $1,406.5 million in year 2007 versus $1,052 million in 2006; and Singapore Airlines(SIA) had declared an operating profit of $982 million for the first half of FY 2007-2008, an increase of 84 .1% at $449 million compared to last year 2006-20071(SIA, Annual Report 2007). Singapore is fairly a small red dot on the globe with limited natural sceneries and leisure places for its people to enjoy. Hence, many of the Singapore residents prefer to travel out of Singapore. According to the data from Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA), the total outbound departures of Singapore residents for year 2008 had rose by 804,234 to 6,828,362 as compared to 2007 at 6,024,128. There is a growing number of Singaporeans from all age groups, between 18 to 65 years old, travelling overseas frequently to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and Hong Kong SAR as it seemed that travelling has became part of their lifestyle. With the gradual increase in income level of employed workers as well as a good starting pay for the new comers who had just graduated from universities and began their working lives, the younger and better educated Singaporeans are now able to enjoy affordable recreational and leisure activities which could not have been possible previously. The peak travel seasons were spotted high in early June, November and December every year given its school holidays nationwide. Many parents choose to travel with children during these periods so they can enjoy the family togetherness. Otherwise, they would not have the flexibility to travel on any other month in view of the endless workload of working parent as well as stipulated school seme sters that children had to abide by. The second most travelled season during the year would be those public holidays falling just before or after a weekend and many working Singapore residents would tend to take off days 3 from work, travelling to nearer destinations for leisure purpose. Travel agencies anticipated an increase in businesses during these periods and plan to promote short trip packages to regional destinations for those who want to travel over the long weekends (Channel NewsAsia4, 2009). These destinations include Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong (DSS, 2008). Thus from the data, it sparked our interests to find out the travel trends of Singapore residents such as the number of trips and cost of travel made in a year, preference to travel by package or free and easy, preferred destination and travel agency etc., in Singapore during good and bad times. Objectives and Research questions The main purposes developed for this project is to investigate the recent trends involved in leisure travelling and tourism in Singapore using data obtained in an empirical study. The following are the objectives of this study include: Objectives To find out the extent to which the different trends involved on travel for Singaporeans. To investigate if there is any correlation between the income level and place of travel with the citizens of Singapore. To find that these recent trends are supported by marketing tools. 1.1.2Research Questions Based on the objectives the study aims on the leisure travel and tourism in Singapore. In order to serve the above purpose we will address the following three research questions. RQ 1: What are the trends involved on travel for Singaporeans? RQ 2: How does the correlation exists between the income level and place for travel? RQ3: How do the existing trends can be supported by recent trends in marketing? Significance of the Study The present research focuses to examine the trend of travel from a Singaporeans perspective given the intensified frequency on outbound travel by per Singaporean in the recent years. This research highlights the market-based management as well as strategies for growing customer value. It also includes empirical analysis that involves gathering of travel profiles from selected subjects; secondary data is collected via literature reviews and statistical research by reliable and established sources. Literature review 1.3.1 Introduction In Singapore, a number of research works had placed their focus on visitors travelling trend (inbound) to Singapore, analyzing travellers choice of travel agency (Tak and Wan, 2005; Heung and Chu, 2000) and travellers usage on travel agency (Goldsmith and Litvin, 1999). However, there is no research on outbound travel particularly in areas like examining the trend of travellers profile in Singapore that affect or influence them in travelling especially during bad times where the world is facing economic downturns as well as the current swine flu influenza which appeared abruptly in April 2009 killing 231 people in Mexico, Canada and USA (World Health Organisation, 2009). According to the Singapore Department of Statistics for year 2008, Singapore had a population of 4.84 million and out of which, 3.64 million were Singapore citizens (including permanent residents). Singapores socio-demographic had changed rapidly over the years especially the growing aging population as highlighted in the report on aging population (2006) that the number of residents aged 65 years or older will multiply threefold from current 300,000 to 900,000 in year 2030; dual income families (the average monthly household income from work6 had grew by 12.5% at $7,750 in year 2008 vs. $6,890 of last year); the growing trend of many young couples who prefer not to have children so as to enjoy two-person lifestyle (total fertility rate 2007 stood at 1.29 per female out of 42.6 female of general marriage rate); and rising of single adults (15% males and 12.6% females of age between 40 to 44) in year 2007. The studies by Chon and Singh (1995); Loverseeds (1997); Morrison et al, (1996) ; and Ross (1999) also revealed that the changes in socio- demographic had led to substantial changes in travel trends and leisure demand in the travel industry. 1.3.2 Travelling in time of Crisis and Risk Tourism today is vulnerable to natural disasters and crisis. The effect of terrorists attacked in World Trade Center, New York and Pentagon had tremendously brought the tourism industry to a halt for a long period of time with an estimated loss of US10 billion (Floyd et al., 2004) and it took several months for travellers to regain their confidence in travelling. The impact on the flow of information from the news media could changed the travellers attitude, perception and behaviour on the impression of risks that travellers would face when travelling (Valencia and Crouch, 2008). Incidents of natural disasters, political unrest, wars, epidemics, and terrorism lead to perceived travel risks (Mansfeld, 2006), whereas tourists ignorance of the probability of such events engage them in real risks (Wilks Page, 2006). This remark had tallied with Laws Prideaux (2005) and Glaesser (2003)s findings that risk derives as the probability of an undesirable incident that leads to the possible ne gative consequences of a consumers behaviour. Whereas, Beirman (2003) said that the perception of safety and security is a major determinant in travellers decisions to visit a place. 1.3.3 Travel Expenditures Travel expenditure patterns are vital to travel organizers and destination marketers (Jang et al., 2004). The growth in international tourism spending had reached 5.6% (adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation) in 2007, in particular strong in Asia and Pacific with an increase of 11% (WTO, 2008). The total travel expenditure in Southeast Asia for year 2007 has increased by 24% at USD54 billion compared to last year of USD 43.6 billion (WTO, 2008). The expenditure incurred on travel fall mainly in these categories, which were also important pillars of the economies in that country returned airfares, lodging, food and beverages, transportation and recreation activities. WTO also reported that nearly 80 countries earned more than USD1 million from international tourism in 2007. In examining the travel expenditure pattern of Japanese to United States, Jang et al. (2004) concluded that Japanese travellers (non package tour) spent an average of $3265 in United States. The hig her income Japanese (with an annual household income above $100,000) spent an average of $4367 while, the lower income Japanese (annual household income below $100,000) spent an average of $2831. The high income travellers spend significantly more. The study also revealed that Japanese travellers with companions tend to spend more than those travel alone. In Zhang et al. (2004)s study, the authors concluded that respondents with higher income (US$30,000 or above) perceived travel cost less important than those lower income groups (US$14,999 or below). Hong et al. (2005) revealed that financial factors indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between income and assets and leisure travel spending, that is employed families spent significantly more than unemployed families during leisure travel, whilst, retired families spend the same amount as unemployed families but more on accommodation. 1.3.4 Income and Travel Distance Hoe (2007) reported that in the 2007 Country Brand Index, a global survey made by over 2,600 international travellers, Singapore was ranked as the first Asian country that most people want to live in among Asian cities, and came in fourth position in the global category. In year 2008, there were 39% of employed households earned a median monthly household income of S$4950, and the residents expenditure abroad had gradually increased from $11.54 million in year 2003 to $14.31 million in 2007(DSS, 2008). It was assumed that the household income has correlation with the number of overseas trips made by the individual or per household in a year. Research in consumer behaviour has found that people of higher income would tend to search more for products/services information (Andereck and Caldwell, 1994; Runyon and Stewart, 1987; Robertson, Zielinski and Ward, 1984; Newman, 1977). Sparks and Pan (2009) also revealed that a higher percentage (51%) of the Chinese in China who earned more than 8000 yuan (67.1% of surveyed respondents earned more than 8000 yuan per month) were likely to travel outside China within the next 12 months. Similarly, Zhang et al. (1999)s finding also revealed that people with higher income tend to travel further, but the relationship is not linear and the higher the respondents self-perceived incomes the longer will be the travelled distance. According to Nicolau and Mas (2005), the effect of distance and prices are moderated by tourist motivations at the moment of choosing a destination. The findings conducted in Spain concluded that individual is not incline towards long trips and prefer shorter distance. However, they do not mind longer journeys if they are visiting family or friend or exploring new places. Contradictory, this group of people is unwilling to pay more for expensive places where family or friend resides but are willing to pay to explore new places. Nicolau and Mas (2005) also highlighted that people who are looking for culture are generally more willing to pay higher prices, whereas those looking for climate are less willing. In Singapore, with the rapid changes in socio-demographic over the years, there had been an increasing number of young adults age ranging from 15 to 34 years old that travel overseas at least once a year to neighboring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand (DSS, 2005). Some of the possible reasons of short distance travelling could be financial constraints or not able to take longer leave from work. Heung and Chu (2000) found that travellers with lower income are more concern with pricing than travellers with higher income. 1.3.5 Intentions to Travel Travel is considered a leisure activity (Turco, Stumbo, Garncarz, 1998). Neal, Uysal and Sirgy (2007) also confirmed that travel is an important aspect of leisure life. Given the high standard cost of living in Singapore and heavy pressure from work, many Singaporeans chose to maintain a balance lifestyle between work and relaxation by travelling out of Singapore. Hence majority choose to escape from work to enjoy recreation activities with family or friends. Zabriskie McCormick (2001) concluded that Families are still considered to be the fundamental units of society and are perhaps the oldest and most important of all human institutions. Examination of family leisure had consistently demonstrated a positive relationship between family recreation and aspects of family functioning such as satisfaction and bonding. In another research work by Modell and Imwold (1998) suggested that there are several benefits of active involvement in recreational activities by the family, parents in particular, such as learning about diversity and socially appropriate behaviour, increased communication and self-esteem, and the development of friendships and social skills. Methodology The data used in this study was collected using the online survey method involving respondents of Singapore residents. This method was chosen as it is an ease and cheap way of targeting the respondents and collecting data. A structured questionnaire looking at different trends of travel and tourism of the Singapore was the main instrument used to collect the data. A five point likert scale ranging from 1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neutral, 4=agree and 5=strongly agree was used on the trends influencing travel and tourism in Singapore. The questionnaire was first pre-tested on few students basically known as pilot study was made to ensure that the wording used was clear and understandable as w.ell as to estimate the time involved in filling the questionnaire Statistical package for social science (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics, T-test were the statistical tools used in the analysis. 1.5 Outline of the Project This thesis is organized into five sections. Chapter 1 introduces the analysis of tourism outlook of Singapore for both inbound and outbound travel. It also outlines the objective, aim to achieve, and research questions. Chapter 2 examines the past works and analysis conducted by various researchers performed in areas like travelling during crisis and risk, travel distance, travel expenditures, intentions to travel, travel behaviour, influences on attributes and purchases preference. Chapter 3 presents the methodology used in this thesis and the research findings obtained through this methodology. Data collection strategies and analysis used would be presented in details. This chapter also consist the limitation of study, ethical considerations as well as sampling and population. Chapter 4 examines the results collected from the survey .This chapter also includes a discussion of the findings to explain the reason behind the factors influencing the abroad education. Chapter 5 concludes the study by summarizing the findings in this study and presenting the implications that could arise as well as the possible future directions. 1.6 Summary Firstly In this chapter the background of the project explains briefly about the leisure travel and tourism in Singapore where the background also revealed the justification for the purpose of the study, which is followed by research questions and objectives of the project .Finally, this chapter provided the overview about the 5 chapters in this project independently.

Teenage Smoking :: Cigarette Smoking

Teenage Smoking: Teenagers Should Not Smoke   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Teenagers should not smoke because smoking is the most preventable cause of death in America today, especially among teenage smokers. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. It is also responsible for chronic bronchitis. Last, there is emphysema, which is another disease caused by smoking. By smoking, people have a fivefold increase in the risk of dying from lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lung cancer accounts for 29 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States and smoking accounts for about 87 percent of lung cancer deaths. The risks of dying from lung cancer are 23 times higher for male smokers and 11 times higher for female smokers than for nonsmokers. An estimated 158,700 people - 94,400 men and 64,300 women- die from this disease each year, which makes lung cancer the leading cause of cancer deaths in both sexes. The great majority of lung cancer cases could be prevented and thousands of lives could be saved each year if people would quit smoking.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Smoking is the main cause of chronic bronchitis and has been found to cause acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis affects the branches of the bronchi and may develop into bronchial asthma or lobular pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis, a serious and incurable disorder, may result from repeated attacks of acute bronchitis. It is characterized by fever, chest pain, severe coughing, and often secretion of sputum (mucous material coughed up from the respiratory tract).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emphysema is a progressive respiratory disease characterized by coughing and shortness of breath, which can develop into extreme difficulty in breathing, and most of the time resulting in disability and death. In recent years, emphysema has become a very serious public health problem in terms of rapidly increasing numbers of disabilities and deaths. The highest degree of occurrence is among heavy cigarette smokers, especially those exposed to polluted air. Although people can not quite cure emphysema, abstention from smoking is essential, because it can give relief and increase functioning capacity.

Pilgrims Progress Short Form Essay

MAIN CHARACTERS (a clear, concise description of each): Christian is the main character, he has a simple personality. He represents just one aspect of the human experience: the search for religious truth. He is his faith (hence the name) his motivation, the search for salvation in the celestial city, is the one aspect that clearly defines him. Apollyon is the antagonist, he has a physical irregularity that displays his evil. Apollyon is a hybrid being, part dragon, bear, human, and fish, the air associated with his wings, the fire linked with dragons and the earth that bears live on. These combination convey his immense power, suggesting that he draws power from all parts of the universe, his nature is complex, the exact opposite of Christians extreme simplicity. MINOR CHARACTERS (a clear, concise description of each): Evangelist- the messenger carrying the gospel, or the word of Christ, to Christian he spurs Christian on his journey to the celestial city. Obstinate- a neighbor of Christian in the city of destruction who refuses to accompany him. Pliable- A neighbor if Christians who accompanies him for a while. After falling though the slough of Despond , Pliable is discouraging and returns home, only to be mocked by the townsfolk. Help- Fellow pilgrim who helps pull Christian from the Slough of Despond. Worldly Wiseman- A reasonable and practical man whom Christian encounters early in his journey Worldly Wiseman tries unsuccessfully to urge Christian to give up his religious foolishness and live a content secular life. Formalist- A traveler whom Christian meets along the wall of Salvation. With his hypocrisy, Formalist sneaks over the wall, instead of following the straight and narrow as Christian did. Hypocrisy- Formalist’s travel companion Discretion- One of the four mistresses of the Palace Beautiful. Discretion takes Christian and feeds him. Piety- one of the four mistresses of the palace Beautiful. Piety asks Christian about his journey so far. Prudence- One of the four mistresses of the Palace Beautiful. Prudence tries to understand Christian’s purpose in traveling to Mount Zion Charity- One of the four mistresses of the palace Beautiful. Charity asks Christian why he did not bring his family, which causes him to weep. The Interpreter- Spiritual guide who shelters Christian. The Interpreter instructs Christian in the art of reading religious meanings hidden in everyday objects and events, which he houses in his Significant Rooms. Shining Ones- Three celestial creatures who clothe Christian with the new garments and give him the certificate. The Shining Ones act as guardians throughout Christians journey. Faithful-Fellow pilgrim from Christian’s hometown who reports on the city they both left behind. Faithful loyally accompanies Christian until he is executed in the town of Vanity for the crime of disrespecting local Satan- worshiping religion. Talkative- Fellow pilgrim who travel alongside Christian and faithful for a while. Talkative is spurned by Christian and faithful for a while. Talkative is spurned by Christian for valuing spiritual words over religious deeds. Mr. By-ends- A user of religion for personal ends and social profit. Mr. By-ends accompanies Christian briefly after Christian escapes from vanity. Hopeful-Pilgrim who replaces Faithful as Christian’s travel companion and confidant after leaving Vanity, all the way to Celestial city. Hopeful saves Christian’s life in the river before the gates to mount Zion Giant Despair- Master of the doubting castle. Giant Despair imprisons Hopeful and Christian for trespassing on his domain and is later killed by Great-Heart and Christian’s sons. Diffidence- Giant Despair’s wife. She encourages the harsh punishment of Hopeful and Christians in the Doubting Castle. Demas- Gentlemanly figure who tries to entice Christian and Hopeful with silver and dreams of wealth. Temporary- A would-be pilgrim whom Christian speaks of in a cautionary way, warning of Temporary’s backsliding before his spiritual progress was complete. MAIN SETTING(S) (a clear, concise description of each): There is no main setting; the novel occurs in a variety of places. ONE PARAGRAPH PLOT OUTLINE: Faith, Hope, Mercy, Envy, Ignorance, Guilt: These are not abstract concepts, but the names of vividly imagined, sharply draw human characters encountered by Christian, the hero of The Pilgrim’s Progress. In Christians search for salvation, each step along the way becomes a dramatic rendering of an inner state of the human psyche. As Christian journeys from â€Å"The wilderness of this world† to the glory of the Celestial City, he confronts a seemingly endless array of temptations, threats, and dangers, including the nearly irresistible allure of material splendor at Vanity Fair; the crushing psychological burden of depression and despair in the Slough of Despond ; and the fear and uncertainty that eats away at faith in the Doubting Castle. TWO OR THREE SYMBOLS (explain references and importance): City of Destruction- the city represents the entire world as it is, with all of its sins, corruptions, and sorrows, no one living there can have any hope of salvation. Interpreter- a character symbolizing the Holy Spirit. ONE OR TWO SENTENCES ON DOMINANT THEMES (State the theme correctly, e.g, â€Å"Love is blind.† NOT â€Å"the theme is about love.† What about it? BS. See Lit Book, p1187): The path to spiritual salvation is one full of many obstacles. STYLE ANALYSIS- CITE EXAMPLES AND ANALYZE THE EFFECT: The Style Analysis portion of your short form must be ONE Page. Use bullet points-NOT narrative format- like ur Novel Notes Single Spaced- but otherwise MLA format one inch margins N E Tabs s/b 1.5† Use Bullet Points – NOT narrative format ELABORATE on the Effect! Use your TOOLBOX and HandOuts DICTION: SYNTAX: FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: FOUR SHORT (memorable QUOTATIONS TYPICAL OF THE WORK – include speaker and occasion. 1. â€Å"quote† – â€Å"Here is a burdened sinner. I come from the City of Destruction, but am going to Mount Zion, that I may be delivered from Wrath to come; I would therefore, sir, since I am informed that by this gate is the Way thither, know if you are willing to let me in?† Speaker – Christian Occasion – Christian introduces himself to the gatekeeper Goodwill, so that he can get through the gate and continue on his journey to salvation. 2. â€Å"quote† – â€Å"By this I perceive thou art one of my subjects; for all that country is mine, and I am the prince and God of it. How is it then that thou hast run away from thy king?† Speaker- Apollyon Occasion – Apollyon tries to kidnap Christian and thwart his journey. 3. â€Å"quote.† –   You will use this Short Form to write your analysis essay.

Dorthy Day´s Reaction to Upton Sinclair´s The Jungle Essay

Dorothy Day had a curious personality and a very imaginative mind. When she attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she wrote in her biography The Long Loneliness, my reading began to be socially conscious (Day 36). It was around this time that she began to read Upton Sinclairs The Jungle. Sinclair was a socialist whom Day most likely would have strongly related to. Day was a part of the Christian Socialist Movement and sympathized with a lot of Sinclairs ideals. At the time she was introduced to The Jungle, Dorothy Day lived in Chicago with her family. Coindentally, The Jungle was set in Chicago, and so Day could further relate to the realities depicted in the novel. The Jungle dealt with the cruel and shocking†¦show more content†¦Day continues, and though my only experience with the destitute was in books, the very fact that The Jungle was about Chicago where I lived, whose streets I walked, made me that from then on my life was to be linked with theirs ( Day 38). It was her first experiences with the poor. Her first face-to-face encounters with the reality of what she had been reading. This had made everything feel more personal to Day, making the significance of Sinclair and similar writers hold a prominent role in the forming of Days character, and consequently in forming her actions. For example, not shortly thereafter does Day write in her autobiography, I wanted everyone to be kind in response to seeing the good of the Salvation Army and the condition of the poor (Day 39). She then recalls all the abundance of good that people had done during the San Francisco earthquake. She felt that all of humanity should exist like they had during the earthquake, a time when all people were good to each other and in a constant state of helping and caring. The Jungle wasnt just well received by Day either. Many people at the time enjoyed Sinclairs work and were captivated in similar ways as Day. What made it so interesting? The (fictional) s tory tells of the exploits of an immigrant family as they sought employment in the meat packing plants of Chicago. They were young and happy, but they were also very poor. In order to pay for