Singapore Q2 gambling, entertainment spending up 12 percent

The overall number of visitors to Singapore and the amount they spent declined in Q2, but revenue from sightseeing, entertainment and gaming showed significant gains, according to the Singapore Tourism Authority.
In Q2, tourism receipts fell three percent year-on-year to S$5.6 billion ($4.4 billion) while international visitor arrivals dropped six percent to 3.6 million.
However, sightseeing, entertainment and gaming revenue rose 12 percent to $1.47 billion. The overall decline in spending came mainly from a drop in visitors from China, Indonesia and Malaysia spending in shops.
Gazetted hotel room revenue was reported as S$0.8 billion, up 5.2 percent in the second quarter of 2014 and S$1.6 billion, a gain of 9.1 percent from January to June 2014.
In the first half, tourism receipts rose 2 percent, while international visitor arrivals dipped 3 percent.
The STA said a new China tourism law that came into effect last year, the disappearance of the Malaysian Air flight MH370, and abduction of Chinese visitors in Sabah as well as political unrest in Thailand all had a "dampening effect on Chinese travel to the region.”
Outside China, visitor arrivals from elsewhere grew two percent over the six-month period to June 30