Credit: 2015 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix
WHILE last year’s Singapore Grand Prix saw a blanket of haze overshadow the event, this year, gloom is being cast in the form of a virus.
A locally transmitted strain of the Zika virus sprouted in Singapore since August 28 and cases of infection in the city-state have reached 355 at last count.
However, the race event, which sees approximately 40 per cent of attendees from foreign countries, is not shifting to a lower gear because of Zika fears.
Tour East has not experienced any impact immediately following the outbreak, neither has it seen cancellations for the F1 window period, according to Judy Lum, senior vice-president sales & marketing of the Singapore inbound operator.
This is despite a number of countries, including Australia, Taiwan, South Korea, the UK and the US having issued travel warnings to Singapore.
The Singapore Tourism Board and race organisers Singapore GP have both voiced their confidence in a successful event and stated that ticket sales are not affected.
Almost 87,000 spectators attended last year’s race and a full crowd is expected for this year’s circuit as well.
“I am not sure if it is due to the fact that Tour East’s clients are predominantly from Europe and Australia that we did not experience any cancellations for F1,” commented Lum.
According to Q2 data from travel solutions provider Sojern, travel intent and forward bookings from Europe to Singapore during the F1 period remains strong and unchanged from last year.
“From a long-term basis, we are seeing week-on-week growth from Western Europe, which is the core region of F1 fans,” explained Russell Young, managing director Asia-Pacific at Sojern.
The allure of the event, the only night race in the F1 circuit, seems to be holding up in spite of recent worries, especially so for fans.
“Traditionally, the top markets in no particular order are Australia and the UK, as well as fans from Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines,” said Fiona Smith, director media and communications at Singapore GP.
Accommodations booking data from Hotels.com confirms that the major markets of Japan, Australia and the UK, among others, account for most of the reservations made over the September 15-18 period when the race takes place.
But surprisingly, South Korea took pole position for the most number of room reservations made during the F1 weekend, ostensibly signifying the market’s potential.
Concluded Lum: “With all the entertainment events and performing artistes lined up for the F1 weekend proceeding as normal and with the F1 drivers at the race as scheduled, this is a very clear message to the public that it is business as usual and perhaps the extent of the Zika fears were unwarranted.”
