Where are the Statistics?

Our robust tourism industry is a huge economic pillar for this country. Singapore boasts itself as the South East Asian region's leading destination of choice, by pioneering a strong business environment for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) sector while attracting leisure tourists with the Uniquely Singapore campaign.

A section of the landmark Singapore River, along the romantic Clarke Quay at night

With a 5.7% share of the Asian Pacific region's tourism receipts (versus our region's top competitor, China, at 18.4%) the Singapore Tourism Board understands the stakes the tourism industry holds for the national economy. Not only must this country maintain itself as a powerful tourism hub for both leisure and business travelers, Singapore has to attract and retain the right talents in order to drive this industry to more growth. 

A 2015 target set by the STB aims to employ 250,000 people. This means that the forerunners (frontline staff) and planners of the tourism industry need to consider the 15% year-on-year growth of international visitors. Market trends are leaning towards more visitors from expanding South East Asian markets like Indonesia and China, while traditional markets are growing at smaller rates (US, +7.7%), or shrinking (UK, -7.0%).

While this creates great excitement for Singapore's tourism, we have to look at how we are going to progress as a nation. Implementing better signage in a multitude of languages, expanding walkways along the shopping districts and maintaining a transport system that offers longer and more frequent schedules. Incorporating more is advantageous and an it seems like an obviously sound response to the growing number of visitors.

However, a key issue when considering the developments in public facilities, is the quality of planning and design. Instead of asking "how can we maximize the public use of this space?", we need to look at how we can optimize this facility's function for as many people as possible. It's not about the quantity of what you can fit inside a box, but how flexible the box is so that it can carry a variety of different materials.

That is the biggest cardboard box I've ever seen, and one can technically put in anything up to 150 pounds. However, do you think the volume of this box is able to compensate for the permeability of cardboard, especially if you fit in 150 liters of water?

This leads to understanding the needs of disabled travelers. In Singapore, there is a lack of literature regarding adult disability rates. A discussion report by Daniel Mont of The World Bank says that majority of countries lack proper census measures of people who are disabled, including those who use mobility aids. This inadequate measure of knowledge in the prevalence of disabled people (mainly mobility aid users) would affect the ability for national developers, businesses and hospitality service providers from meeting the needs of both disabled travelers and local citizens.

If we don't assess the prevalence of individuals in Singapore living with such unique requirements, we do not know who to ask and where to understand what the right accessibility needs are. Not only is there a lack of awareness, but there is no knowledge of what we should be aware of. Any standards we are meeting are only assumed based on the footing of allowing for more, instead of allowing for most. Thus, this country will continue to develop with dynamic growth, without ever achieving the prime elements of universal design.