Singapore Tourism Profile Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Singapore Tourism Profile - Research Paper Example This tourism profile will examine certain aspects of Singaporean culture and life that have a direct impact on tourism in Singapore and throughout the region. Role and Significance of Major Cities Singapore is quite unique in that it is a city-state. By definition, this means that it is a one-city country, similar to Vatican City. The only geographical distinction in Singapore is that, over time, they have named a few small town and villages in the remote parts such as Tao Payoh, Ang Mo Kio, and Bedok. The major city of Singapore is the economic hub of Southeast Asia and is one of the prosperous and most expensive cities to live in globally (Henderson 124). Cultural Factors Through the years, Singapore has become a mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and British influence. This has created a rich and diverse culture that has evolved over the years into what it is today. Modern day Singapore began largely as a large fishing village under the auspices of the British Empire. The unique aspec t of the Singaporean culture is that many different ethnicities have coexisted alongside each other for so many years that there is little separation along racial lines today (Phua, Berkowitz, & Gagermeir 1255). While there is certainly a class struggle taking place, as in most first world countries, the country is not divided by ethnicity. When visiting Singapore, tourists would be interested know that the family structure is extremely strong. For the most part, Singaporean families are quite small, averaging only one or two children. The exception would be ethnic Malays, who tend to have more children (Phua, Berkowitz, & Gagermeir 1255). The cost of raising a family is extremely expensive on the island, likely accounting for the small family size. Because of this, the family unit is central to the culture. Because of the focus on education, young people are delaying getting married, particularly women, limiting their childbearing years. This has created a potential problem in term s of under population, already represented in the amount of foreign labor that the country depends on to keep advancing. The population growth in Singapore is one of the lowest in the world. While it is difficult to say that any country has truly achieved gender equality, Singapore certainly appears to be headed in that direction, if they have not already arrived. Women currently hold high positions in both the government and private business sectors. Women and men alike have the same rights when it comes to politics, employment, and education (Heng & Low 249). In addition, both men and women have rights to maternity leave, making this a unique part of Asian culture and similar to many countries in the rest. As tourists prepare to travel to the Republic of Singapore, they should note that the many residents are bilingual. Most Singaporeans speak English as their main language, although people from the West will note some variations in word choice and accent. In addition to English, many people will speak Mandarin Chinese, Malay, or Tamil. The educational system in Singapore it structured in English, with a child’s second language being taught as their foreign language. Climate and Topography Singapore itself is only 269 square miles in total. An interesting fact is that this makes the land size only four times bigger than the District of Columbia in the United States. The island is located just to the south of the Malaysian Peninsula, which,