About Singapore
Unique is the word that best describes Singapore, a dynamic city rich in contrast and colour where you will find a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture. Singapore has grown into a thriving centre of commerce and industry.

Located in the heart of fascinating Southeast Asia, Singapore is the busiest port in the world with over 600 shipping lines. Brimming with unbridled energy and bursting with exciting events, the city offers countless unique, memorable experiences waiting to be discovered.

Cuisine
Singapore is consequently a cosmopolitan place where people from all over the world sit down to enjoy each other’s cooking. Each culture has brought with it unique cooking styles including Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, Peranakan, Indian, Thai, Japanese and Korean. There is a vast array of hawker stalls and restaurants, ranging from global franchises to gourmet delis to globally-ranked fine dining establishments.

Climate
Tropical climate with temperatures ranging from a low of 24°C to a high of around 31°C.  June-August is considered to be the best time to visit.

People
The population is just over 4 million, and around 77.2% are Chinese, 14.1% Malay and 7.4% Indian. The remaining 1.3% comprises of people from all over the world who have chosen to make Singapore their home.

Language
English is the common language spoken by all.

Transportation
Travelling around Singapore is a cinch. An efficient public transportation network of taxis, buses and the modern Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail system ensures that getting from point to point is hassle-free and extremely affordable. Both the conference and pre-conference venue is a short 10 minute walk away from the central City Hall MRT station.

Shopping
The Great Singapore Sale 2009 will be held from 29 May to 26 July, and shoppers can expect great discounts and buys during this period. The conference is held at the “City Hall” district of Singapore. This area is a central hub, and offers major departmental stores, supermarkets, movie theatres, restaurants, famous hotels and other entertainment outlets.

Some of the well known shopping places include Raffles City, Suntec City, Marina Square and Millennia Walk.

It is also near to the Esplanade, Singapore's most exciting performance space. Located at the waterfront, Esplanade is known for its dome shaped roofs, where from afar they could look like a durian, or a bug's eyes. The Esplanade houses a 1600 seat concert hall, a 2000 seat theatre, theatre and studios, outdoor theatre, with their dining services.

For more information on Singapore, please visit the Uniquely Singapore Website.

Currency
Other than the Singapore Dollar, the US, Australian and Brunei Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in most major shopping centres and big departmental stores. Major cards are also widely accepted by establishments in Singapore.

Visa Requirements
National passport holders of most countries are permitted to stay in Singapore for up to 14 days without visas. However visas may be required for visitors from some other countries and participants are requested to clarify this before travelling. You should have valid passports, onward/return tickets, onward facilities (e.g. visas, entry permits, etc) to the next destination and sufficient funds for your stay in Singapore.

For more details on visa application, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

For more information on entry requirements, visit the
Singapore Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority website