GTA welcomes winning film-makers to Singapore

Travel agents from ten Asia-Pacific countries have won a five-day trip to Singapore (17-21 September 2015) in a new competition launched last month by global travel distributor GTA.
 

The My Singapore Hidden Gems competition, www.mysingaporehiddengems.com, encouraged the region’s travel trade to recommend Singapore’s lesser known appeals as part of GTA’s Strategic Partnership Program. In just over two weeks, the competition generated enormous excitement among the travel trade community with a wealth of recommendations revealed. More than 100 video entries were received from travel agents in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
 

Daryl Lee, GTA’s Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, says: “We know that the personal insight and recommendation of a travel agent can inspire travellers to explore many different aspects of a destination. The contest illustrated just how much even those overseas know about Singapore. True destination champions, these winning travel agents are introducing overseas tourists to Singapore’s hidden gems and helping them see that the destination has a lot more to offer yet.”
 

GTA’s strong network and long-standing relationships in Singapore’s key source markets make it an important partner for increasing the number of visitors from around the world. Winners are major travel agent brands and GTA’s clients: Flight Centre Canberra Centre (Australia), Guangzhou Meiya (China), Travel Expert (Hong Kong), Bonton Holidays (India), Fima Wisata (Indonesia), Success Convention (Japan), Tradewings Tours & Travel (Philippines), Sino America Tours (Singapore), Hanatour (South Korea) and Cola Tours (Taiwan) will fly to Singapore this Thursday to enjoy their prize.
 

Along with professional cameras and film crew, GTA will take them to film many of the places that they recommended such as Geylang Durian village, Little India, Kampong Glam, the market and cafes of Tiong Bahru, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens – awarded UNESCO World Heritage status this year. At the end of the five-day trip, 11 short videos will showcase the hidden gems of Singapore and will be used for travel trade training and marketing materials over the next six months.
 

The films record the experience of tasting delicacies from Roti Prata to Kaya Toast and Chwee Kueh, known as ‘UFO’ by foreign visitors. They explore Pedra Niagra at Haji Lane and the heart of Singapore’s Malay community in Kampong Glam, as well as the intriguing mix of historic temples and contemporary street art to be found throughout the destination. Winners also have three-day premier walkabout access to record and share the excitement of the 2015 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix and concerts taking place during their stay.