Airport
Changi Airport is about 20 km. from the Central Business District. The airport is linked by two expressways -- the East Coast Parkway and the Pan Island Expressway -- to other parts of Singapore, providing easy access by taxi, public bus, or car. Travel time to the city is about 25 minutes by car or taxi, 45 minutes by bus.

Visa
Visitors entering Singapore must have passports valid for six months from the time of their arrival. Visas are not required for stays of up to two weeks for Commonwealth citizens, British passport holders, and citizens of the Republic of Ireland.

Currency
The Singapore dollar (S$) is divided into 100 cents. Foreign exchange facilities area available at the airport, hotels, large department stores, and authorized money changers. Click here for currency conversion.

Credit Cards
Major international credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bankard, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in major establishments.

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Tipping
Tipping is actively discouraged by the government. It is prohibited in the airport and not encouraged in hotels that already charge a 10% service charge, as well as restaurants that charge GST. However, bellboys are generally tipped $1 per luggage. You are not obliged to tip taxi drivers. For more information on social and business etiquette.

Useful Numbers
Police 999
Ambulance 995 (toll-free)
Airport Coach Service (AIRBUS) 542-1721 or 542-1732

Electricity
220-240 volts, 50 cycles. Wall outlets are for three- or two-pronged plugs. If your appliances are dual-voltage, you'll need only an adapter.

Health Risks
Singapore is generally epidemic-free, but hepatitis is not uncommon and may be caused by contaminated seafood and street food. Use common sense before eating anything from street vendors. Singapore's water is clean and safe to drink from the tap, and need not be boiled.

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Business Hours
Most private offices are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Banks are open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Malls are generally open the whole week from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m..

Time Zone
GMT + 8 hours, same as Hong Kong

Holidays
2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
7-8 Feb Chinese New Year.
21 Mar Good Friday.
1 May Labour Day.
19 May Vesak Day (Birth of the Buddha).
9 Aug National Day.
1 Oct Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan).
28 Oct Deepavali.
8 Dec Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
26-28 Jan Chinese New Year.
10 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labour Day.
2 May Vesak Day (Birth of the Buddha).
9 Aug National Day.
20 Sep Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan).
17 Oct Deepavali.
27 Nov Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Climate
Tropical; warm and humid, with only slight variations between 23°-31°Celsius. There are two main seasons: the Northeast Monsoon (from December to March) and the Southwest Monsoon (from May to September), separated by two shorter inter-monsoon periods. There are no distinct wet or dry periods.

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Clothing
In business settings, lightweight conservative clothing, like dress slacks, a long-sleeved shirt, and a tie will fit in well. Suits are reserved for important meetings and formal events. Businesswomen generally wear knee-length or longer skirts with blouses, and understated make-up.

GDP Growth Rate
Growth rate: 8.2%
Per Capita: US$27,740

Inflation
1.4% (1999 estimate)

Major Exports
Computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment.

Major Trading Partners
Malaysia, U.S., Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea

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Major Industries
Manufacture of electronic equipment; financial services; oil drilling equipment; petroleum refining; rubber processing and rubber products; production of processed foods and beverages; ship building and repair; biotechnology

Teledensity
14.4 persons per telephone

Government
Parliamentary. The parliament is unicameral; executive power nominally rests with the president but effectively lies with the prime minister and the Cabinet.

Geography
Singapore, a small island with over 60 surrounding islets, is located in Southeastern Asia. Its land area is 647.5 square kilometers. It is linked to Malaysia by two causeway bridges, while Indonesia is just a quick ferry trip away. Thailand and the Philippines are a short plane ride away.

Population
4.6 million

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Ethnic Groups
Chinese (77.3%); Malay (14.1%); Indian (7.3%); others (1.3%)

Language
Malay is the national language. Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, Tamil and English are the official languages. English is the language of administration and widely used for business dealings. Singlish -- a Singaporean version of English that has its own grammar -- is also widely used.

Literacy
91.1% of total population

Religion
Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, and Confucian