The Singapore Formula One race is slightly more than a week away and while it was a sold-out inaugural race last year attracting some 100,000 spectators, that will not be repeated this year.
Organisers are only offering 83,000 seats this year, and as of today, 88 per cent of tickets have been sold.
With the poor economy, race organisers were already expecting slower ticket sales this year. Despite that, they managed to ramp up sales, which are picking up as the race approaches. Five categories, including the walkabout tickets, have been sold out.
Last year, the very last ticket was sold on race day on Saturday and organisers are hoping the same this year.
Tourism is another area affected by the economic downturn, but the authorities are cautiously optimistic.
Lynette Pang, director, Entertainment, Sports & Arts, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "We are keeping our target the same as last year, in terms of tourism receipts, which is really the important key performance indicator for us - as Singapore Tourism Board.
"We are looking at S$100 million in tourism receipts which is the same as last year. Likewise in terms of visitor attendance, we are keeping it the same as last year at 40 per cent of the total attendance of the three-day race."
Actually, tourism receipts hit S$168 million in 2008 and an estimated 40,000 spectators were foreigners.
In absolute terms, the latest targets will still be a challenge due to the slower response. However, the tourism board hopes to draw more foreign fans using targeted marketing and hitting different demographics.
The situation is not common to Singapore, as many races around the world see a decline in interest after the second year onwards.
Similarly, it will be a challenge for Singapore to drive fans to support the Singapore GP, at least for the next three years, when the current five-year deal ends in 2012.
Organisers are only offering 83,000 seats this year, and as of today, 88 per cent of tickets have been sold.
With the poor economy, race organisers were already expecting slower ticket sales this year. Despite that, they managed to ramp up sales, which are picking up as the race approaches. Five categories, including the walkabout tickets, have been sold out.
Last year, the very last ticket was sold on race day on Saturday and organisers are hoping the same this year.
Tourism is another area affected by the economic downturn, but the authorities are cautiously optimistic.
Lynette Pang, director, Entertainment, Sports & Arts, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "We are keeping our target the same as last year, in terms of tourism receipts, which is really the important key performance indicator for us - as Singapore Tourism Board.
"We are looking at S$100 million in tourism receipts which is the same as last year. Likewise in terms of visitor attendance, we are keeping it the same as last year at 40 per cent of the total attendance of the three-day race."
Actually, tourism receipts hit S$168 million in 2008 and an estimated 40,000 spectators were foreigners.
In absolute terms, the latest targets will still be a challenge due to the slower response. However, the tourism board hopes to draw more foreign fans using targeted marketing and hitting different demographics.
The situation is not common to Singapore, as many races around the world see a decline in interest after the second year onwards.
Similarly, it will be a challenge for Singapore to drive fans to support the Singapore GP, at least for the next three years, when the current five-year deal ends in 2012.
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