The city-state had 4.5 million tourists in the first six months of 2009, representing a 11.5 percent decline from the same period last year, the Singapore Tourism Board said Thursday, July 30. Revenue from tourism fell 13.5 percent to S$6.4 billion (US$4.4 billion) in the January-June period, the board said.

The slump in tourism helped shrink the economy for a year until gross domestic product grew an annualized, seasonally adjusted 20 percent in the second quarter.

The board reiterated its target for tourist income between S$12 billion and S$12.5 billion this year compared to S$14.8 billion last year. It aims to attract 9 million and 9.5 million tourists in 2009 versus 10.1 million in 2008.

In June, arrivals dropped 8.9 percent to 750,000 from 823,000 a year earlier. Arrivals in June rose 3.3 percent from May.

The board said hotel revenue fell 35 percent to S$115 million (US$80 million) in June from G$177 million a year earlier.

The average hotel room rate fell to G$179 in June, down 28 percent from a year earlier.

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