Singapore sees jump in tourist spending

SINGAPORE, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- After suffering from the effects of SARS last year, tourism spending in Singapore has seen a sharp rebound, up 35 percent in January-August.

According to a report by Visa International, tourists spent around $940 million on their credit cards in Singapore during the first eight months of this year, The Straits Times reported.

Tourism and related activity account for more than 6 percent of GDP in the small island-state.

Visa, which claims 60 percent of the global credit card market, said the amount is nearly double that of the same period last year.

The research indicated Australians spent the most in total, followed by visitors from the United States and Britain.