Singapore summit to boost gourmet profile

The event is held across a range of venues throughout the island and showcases premier wine and fine-dining options, with many of the world's premium food and beverage brands. This year the event is supported by American Express, KLM, Meat and Livestock Australia and mineral-water brand San Pellegrino, as well as by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Dr Chan Tat Hon, assistant chief executive (Leisure), Singapore Tourism Board, said: "To achieve our Tourism 2015 targets of doubling visitor arrivals to 17 million and tripling tourism receipts to US$18 billion, the STB has been bolstering Singapore's position as a preferred lifestyle destination for well-heeled and discerning visitors seeking exclusive experiences. "This includes supporting premium events such as the World Gourmet Summit. "The World Gourmet Summit not only elevates Singapore's culinary image but also profiles Singapore as a premier gourmet capital of Asia. "Food is a major draw for our visitors and Singapore's diverse offering of cuisines and dining experiences is one of our strongest attributes." According to STB estimates, in 2004 food and beverage accounted for US$544 million, or about 14 per cent of overseas visitors'total expenditure