Chapter 1.docx

CHAPTER 1: AN ISLAND STATE

In less than 200 years Singapore has moved from being a tropical island covered in forests and with few inhabitants to one of the world’s most densely populated islands with one of the highest living standards.While there are parts that retain links to the past,Singapore offers tourists the most Western of all Asian experiences.Tourists come to Singapore for many reasons and while the quality of the shopping is important for some,there are many other reasons.Some like to experience Singapore’s spectacular attractions with their many parks and rides,others the delicious range of cuisines especially the local Chinese,Malay and Indian dishes;or it could be the variety of accomadation options including some exceptional hotels that is the draw;or perhaps the multiculturalism which can be explored in various districts such as Chinatown,Little India or Kampung Glam.There are also some amazing natural spaces that are home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Leading the new direction in tourism are the two integrated complexes of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands that offer the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas as well as exciting theme park activities.This ensures that Singapore is no longer a place to transit through onto more distant parts although Changi International Airport is one of the world’s busiest.Despite its small size,Singapore offer a comprehensive range of holiday,visitors can rely on the fact that everything is run with great efficiency and destinations are reached with ease by local public travel. While Singapore is mostly considered as one island,there are 60 smaller ones surrounding the main island.The second largest,Sentosa,is connected to the main island via a causeway.The other smaller islands are largely unsettled or used for docks and oil refining.