Contents

Welcome

As we eagerly anticipate the next INTA Conference in Singapore, we are pleased to present you with this simple guide highlighting all that Singapore has to offer. We look forward to seeing you in April 2020!

We hope you find this guide useful and that it makes your stay in Singapore more enjoyable.

Weather

There are only two seasons in Singapore: wet and dry. Like the rest of Southeast Asia, Singapore is hot and humid year-round. Still,

expect to see business people wearing formal attire and jackets. Although it is warm, air- conditioning can be very cold in many areas and you should expect to dress for business meetings and indoor events in temperatures of about 18°C to 20°C. Bring a small umbrella with you. When it rains in Singapore, it pours.

Cultural & Traditional Information

In 50 short years, Singapore has evolved from a sleepy fishing village into a major international city.

Here are a few things you need to know about Singapore before your visit.

  • Singapore is a city-state, and has been recognised as an independent country since 1965. The Republic of Singapore occupies a tiny island on the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula. There are about 60 smaller islands surrounding the major island.
  • English is used in road signs, maps, the MRT and for all business and administrative matters. You will not need a translator.
  • Singapore's official currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD).
  • There are four official languages in Singapore: Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English. Singaporeans are bilingual, for the most part, with English being the common language.
  • Smoking and non-smoking areas are strictly enforced.
  • Minor offenses, such as littering or vandalism can result in hefty fines, caning, and public shaming. Drug trafficking can be punishable by the death penalty (this is clearly printed on the immigration and custom forms you receive upon entering Singapore).
  • Tipping is mostly frowned upon in Singapore. Your restaurants and cafe bills already include a 7% Goods and Services Tax and a 10% Service Charge.
  • In Singapore the power sockets (type G) and standard voltage (230 V) are the same as for the United Kingdom.
  • Although Singapore's cost of living is one of the highest in the world, street food is a cheap commodity here. Hawker centres, food courts with individual street food stalls, can be found everywhere in the city. They are an embedded part of daily Singaporean culture. There, you can find a huge selection of food, mostly Chinese, Indian and Malay. However, in many hawker centres, you can also find western cuisine.

Moving around Singapore

Arriving in Singapore

Changi Airport is the only international airport in Singapore and also one of the busiest airports in Asia. It is located at the eastern end of the city. From the airport, there are many ways for visitors to travel to the INTA conference at Marina Bay Sands convention centre and hotel, as well as to nearby hotels.

Changi Airport Shuttle

The 24-hour Changi Airport Shuttle offers a convenient and inexpensive way of travelling to and from Changi Airport. The shuttles are shared vans that provide drop-offs to most hotels in central Singapore, including the Marina Bay Sands convention centre and hotel. We recommend this option for travellers with light luggage (1 carry-on bag and 1 suitcase). You can pre-book your seat online or engage the service at the Ground Transport Desks in the arrival terminal.

The shuttle runs every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours. 

Taxis

Taxis are the fastest and most comfortable means of transport between the airport and any venue in city. Find them at taxi stands situated in the arrival levels of each terminal. All taxis in Singapore run on metres.

To get to the INTA Conference, simply inform your driver that you are going to the Marina Bay Sands convention centre and hotel.

Please note that there are four taxi pick- up/drop-off points at Marina Bay Sands convention centre and hotel:

  • On Sheares Link outside Hotel Lobby Tower 1
  • Along Bayfront Avenue outside Hotel Lobby Tower 3
  • Outside Sands Expo & Convention Centre
  • Outside The Shoppes

For more information, please visit:

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

Offering affordable and hassle-free rides, Singapore's MRT system remains one of the best ways to get around. The MRT system consists of five lines.

From airport to city:

The Changi Airport MRT Station is located within the airport between terminals 2 and 3. To get to the city, transfer to the westbound train at Tanah Merah Station.

To take the MRT to the INTA Conference, take the Circle Line or the Downtown Line to Bayfront Station, which connects directly to

the Marina Bay Sands convention centre and hotel.

For more information on MRT, please visit:

Ride Share

Another means of transport in Singapore is through ride sharing apps. Currently, there are only two licensed ride share companies in operation: Grab and Go-Jek. You will need to download their apps in order to use the service (which is similar to Uber).

For more information, please visit:

Note: Uber is no longer available in Singapore.

Ez-link Card

The Ez-link Card is a stored value card, which can be used to pay transport fares on buses and the MRT. It can also be used to buy food and drinks from select stores and vending machines. You can purchase the cards at most MRT stations, bus interchanges, and 7-Eleven stores. Cards can be loaded at general ticket machines provided at all MRT stations, as well as at 7-Eleven stores.

Click here for more information on Ez-link

Singapore Tourist Pass

If you plan to travel frequently in Singapore, then the Singapore Tourist Pass is a cost- effective option to consider. It gives you unlimited rides on buses and trains (MRT and LRT) for periods of one to three days depending on the type of pass.

Click here for more information on Singapore Tourist Pass