Tourism Board revamps YourSingapore website

Singapore Tourism Board revamps YourSingapore website


A screenshot from the beta version of the new website. The new site replaces the board's directory-style listings with more than 400 pages of content with a local flavour. -- PHOTO: STB

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is seeking feedback on a revamped website it launched last week.

The YourSingapore site replaces the board's directory-style listings with more than 400 pages of content with a local flavour. These range from the top 10 dishes to eat in Singapore to the difference between the Singlish terms "can lor" and "can leh".

The beta version of the site was unveiled last Wednesday, with a full version to be launched at the end of the year. The last revamp was in 2010.

Mr Terrence Voon, STB's deputy director for marketing activation, said the revamp was partly to reflect the fact that travellers now have more information at their fingertips, including online lifestyle and leisure magazines, blogs and social media.

"When making a travel decision, (travellers) refer to many sources, not just an official destination website like YourSingapore.com," he noted.

They want authentic holiday experiences, which is why the STB roped in local content partners and Singaporean voices to contribute.

Articles from lifestyle sites and magazines such as Time Out Singapore and Honeycombers are put up on the site, which has new icons designed by artist Samantha Lo.

"Much of their content goes beyond tourist attractions to feature some of Singapore's hidden gems that locals know and love," said Mr Voon.

Filmmaker Anthony Chen and actress Michelle Chong are among the personalities giving their take on their home country.

Tongue-in-cheek infographics on topics such as the national hobby of queuing and the differences between kopi, kopi-o, kopi-si and kopi-o-kosong are also featured.

Through social media, users can share their holiday snaps, which may be displayed on the site.

In the past year, the site attracted more than 9.6 million visitors, of which about 7.2 million were unique visitors - those who may have visited the site multiple times.

American Neal Kurtz, 64, a retired principal who visited Singapore last year, said he liked the revamped site: "It's easy to navigate and includes many of the places we visited."

Site users can lodge their feedback via www.yoursingapore.com/contact.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Zoo aims to educate visitors about plight of rhinos

Singapore Zoo aims to educate visitors about plight of rhinos, at risk of extinction


Junior animal management officer Matthias Quek helping Cedric Tan from Odyssey the Global Preschool feed Shova, the rhino, at the Singapore Zoo. Sept 22 is World Rhino Day.

Imagine being massacred for your nails.

This is the reality facing rhinos today. They are being poached to the edge of extinction for their horns.

"People consuming rhino horns may as well be eating... fingernails as the two are made of the same material," said a spokesman for Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which runs the Singapore Zoo.

Hair, feathers, hoofs, claws and horns are all made up of a fibrous protein called keratin.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Haze hit unhealthy range

Haze hit unhealthy range on Monday morning; PSI 111 at 7am



The haze is back.

The National Environment Agency Pollution Standards Index readings crossed over into the unhealthy range in the early hours in the morning. The 3-hour PSI was 102 at 1am and continued to rise through the night.

By 6am, the PSI hit 113 but fell slightly to 111 at 7am.

People with chronic lung and heart disease are advised to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.

Just last month, Singapore passed a new law to punish polluters who cause the haze.

Companies will be fined for each day that they contribute to "unhealthy" haze. Unhealthy haze is defined in the new law as air quality having a Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) value of 101 or greater for 24 hours or more.

Polluting companies may be fined up to $100,000 a day, up to a maximum of $2 million.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Singapore - Malaysia causeway new toll

Singapore to increase toll charges from Oct to match Malaysia's hike

Singapore Toll (wef 1 Oct 2014)
 

Malaysia Toll
 

Plans to improve Sentosa links with cycling paths, walkways

Plans to improve Sentosa links with cycling paths, walkways



Currently, riders going to Sentosa have to filter into fast-moving car lanes at the end of the Sentosa Causeway Bridge, next to the Sentosa Boardwalk (above). -- PHOTO: ST FILE

Cycleways into and around Sentosa, and almost 3km of covered walkways to shelter pedestrians from inclement weather.

These are some of the suggestions that Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) is reviewing as part of its plans to improve connections to and within the island.

They are in line with other efforts to boost accessibility - such as the ongoing construction of the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel, slated to connect outbound traffic from Sentosa with Kampong Bahru Road and Keppel Road by next year.

They also come on the heels of a recently announced makeover that will see attractions in Sentosa grouped by theme and arranged into six designated zones.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

New Causeway Toll

Two museums closing many areas for big revamps

Two museums closing many areas for big revamps


The National Museum of Singapore and the Asian Civilisations Museum (above) will undergo makeovers for most of next year.

Heritage lovers have expressed disappointment after hearing that two of Singapore's popular museums will be closing many of their exhibits for major revamps through most of next year - the country's 50th anniversary.

Parts of the National Museum of Singapore (NMS) have been closing gradually since last month. These include its History Gallery, four Living Galleries and the Goh Seng Choo space featuring the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.

It will have only one major temporary exhibition called Singapura: 700 Years, which opens next month and runs until the middle of next year.

Meanwhile, up to four of the Asian Civilisations Museum's (ACM) 11 galleries will be closed at any one time during a year-long revamp which started at the Empress Place building in late June.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~