Dubai: Luxury resorts, attractions and the recent launch of the "YourSingapore" brand have all contributed to a significant increase in tourists from the Middle East, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced on Tuesday.

Latest figures reveal that the number of visitors from the Middle East in the first half of this year compared with 2009 grew 23.21 per cent to nearly 55,000.

The number of tourists from the UAE in particular increased from 21,756 to 23,248, an increase of 6.85 per cent, proving that "more and more people are choosing Singapore as the South East Asian destination of choice", the STB said.

Singapore is also high on the list of holiday and business destinations for travellers from other Arab countries, according to the numbers.

During the same six months, the number of visitors from Iran rose by 49.6 per cent to more than 20,000.

Qatar and Kuwait also reported record numbers with 4.07 per cent and 84.12 per cent increases, respectively.

Regional tourists

"2010 is an exciting time for us. Singapore is becoming an even more popular global destination for visitors from the Middle East and we're looking forward to welcoming more and more tourists from the region as the year progresses," said Jason Ong, STB Area Director for Middle East and Africa.

Growth comes in the wake of the opening of two new multi-billion dollar integrated resorts as part of Singapore's transformation.

The resorts include South East Asia's first Universal Studios, located on Resorts World Sentosa, featuring 24 exciting rides and attractions and the world's only Madagascar theme park.

The Marina Bay Sands has also helped Singapore "gain a place on the international centre stage", Ong added.

This fully integrated resort boasts six hotels with 963 rooms, designer shopping centres and six celebrity chef restaurants.

Marina Bay

In June, the official launch of the Sands Sky Park and Event Plaza along Marina Bay also added to Singapore's transformation into "a world-class travel destination that has something to offer every kind of traveller."

Singapore will also play host to racing fans from around the globe when the Singapore Formula One hits town in September.

"2010 is becoming a landmark year for Singapore's tourism sectors with our integrated resorts adding to an already compelling suite of tourism attractions.

"I am confident that Singapore will continue to attract more and more tourists from the Middle East as they continue to discover Singapore's array of enriching experiences," said Ong.