SMS S Iswaran's reply to Parliament Questions on F1

Question No 209 of Notice Paper No 227 of 2009

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr. Arthur Fong, Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC.

Question
To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry with the successful completion of F1’s second night race in Singapore (a) what is the revenue generated for our economy as compared to the one held last year; (b) how can we further improve on minimizing disruptions to businesses in the Marina Bay area as well as traffic into the city; and (c) whether the Ministry will be working with LTA and the race organizers to address the bumpy track of the Marina Bay Circuit

Answer
Singapore has successfully hosted two Formula One (F1) races to date. We have the distinction of being F1’s only night race, on a street circuit, set in the heart of the city. We have also complemented the race with a strong line-up of leisure and lifestyle events under the banner of the Singapore GP Season, such as the inaugural F1 Rocks concerts. Taken together, these initiatives have helped us to maximize the branding and economic benefits for Singapore.

Last year, the event drew more than 40,000 overseas visitors and generated nearly $168 million in incremental tourism receipts. The race captured the attention of the international media and was watched, at least in terms of general TV viewership, by 110 million but it exceeds half a billion viewers when taken at a cumulative basis over the year. Hotels across all tiers also benefited substantially during the F1 race weekend last year.

It is a little more than 3 weeks since this year’s race. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is still collating data from various sources and should be able to give the numbers for F1 2009 by the end of the year. However, it should not be a surprise to us if this year’s numbers are not as strong as last year's. This is to be expected given the backdrop of the global economic down turn. But the attendance was still very strong as the media has reported - more than 95% of the tickets were sold. Beyond tourism receipts and arrivals, the F1 race continues to strengthen Singapore’s international branding and improves our mindshare. It is also serves as a good platform for business networking, innovative activities, and new opportunities.

Learning from last year’s inaugural race, the organizers have made a significant effort to shorten this year’s road closure period from 12 to 7 days. This is by no means an easy task because it entails a significant addition of resources, and a lot of coordination; and also safety clearance with the international sports authorities. This significant reduction has lessened inconvenience to road users. Government agencies who were closely monitoring traffic conditions observed that while there were still some instances of congestion due to the various diversions, the situation was a marked improvement over 2008.

Most stakeholders appreciated the significant improvement in the managements of this year’s road closures. The organizers will use their cumulative experience to review the plans for next year and explore options, together with the FIA and FOM, to further enhance road access and reduce inconvenience to road users where feasible.

On the Member’s last question pertaining to the alleged “bumpiness” of the track, LTA re-milled and re-surfaced Raffles Boulevard (around Turns 5 to 7) to remove the bumps observed last year. However, we must recognize that Singapore’s F1 race takes place predominantly on working city streets which are used for the rest of the year by a variety of vehicles. By its very nature, an F1 street circuit will never be as smooth as a purpose-built track. What is noteworthy is that the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) had thoroughly inspected and approved the Marina Bay Circuit as safe for racing both last year and this year.

Our Government agencies, working closely with the race promoter and the FIA, remain committed to ensuring that the Singapore Marina Bay F1 circuit is safe for drivers, marshals, spectators and indeed all who are there at the street circuit.