SINGAPORE’S support for its tourism industry has entered its second phase with initiatives made available this week to businesses operating in the MICE segments as the city state’s Covid-19 “circuit-breaker” lockdown restrictions are extended to June 1.
The assistance comes as part of Singapore Tourism Board (STB)’s S$20 million (about US$1.3m) Marketing Partnership Programme to help travel businesses maintain their international profile and build demand for when the market recovers.
STB will support part of the marketing costs, and award additional funding to companies that collaborate with other tourism stakeholders to create experiences that add greater value to visitors.
Under the first phase of the partnership programme was aimed at the city’s hotels with support raised from 50 per cent to 70 per cent of qualified marketing costs. The scheme will extend to attractions and inbound travel agents while support for conference, event and incentive companies is scheduled to open in early May.
Interested applicants can email STB’s MPP section to learn more.
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Marketing funds, training programmes and tools for business innovation to help companies plan during their downtime are being offered, while for travel agents there is extra help to ease cash-flow concerns.
STB has also launched the SG Stories Content Fund to encourage and support local and international content creators to create compelling stories of strength, resilience, solidarity and unity in Singapore.
The S$2 million fund for digital-video content will cover the costs of creative development and conceptualisation, production and execution, as well as marketing and distribution. The fund will support 90 per cent of qualifying costs, capped at $150,000 per project. This complements funding support from the National Arts Council and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, as part of overall efforts to support the creative community.
Applications are open until May 31 with all filming activities adhering to safe-distancing measures. STB says this means outdoor filming is prohibited and all content must be produced from home.
Lockdown restrictions in Singapore have been extended lockdown to June 1 as authorities combat a rise in coronavirus cases. The measures were first implemented on April 21 in a bid to break the circuit of contagion.
