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Singapore GP 2022 draws largest audience in 13-year history
AFTER a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2022 saw a record crowd of 302,000 over the race weekend (Sep 30 to Oct 2).
This is the highest attendance the event has seen since its inception in 2008. According to promoters Singapore GP, foreign visitors accounted for 49 per cent of total race-goers.
Visitors hailed from all over the world, including Australia, the UK, Indonesia, Netherlands and the US.
Average daily rates of hotels exceeded historical rates of S$440 per night, according to data from hotel industry market data provider STR.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) also revealed that the race generated more than S$1.5 billion in incremental tourism receipts since its debut in 2008.
Notably, 90 per cent of race organisation is subcontracted to Singapore-based companies, including food and beverage (F&B) companies, events companies as well as logistics and transport providers, the ministry said.
In addition, MTI said approximately 1,000 Institute of Technical Education students are employed and trained each year for operational roles. These include access officials deployed at gates, grandstands and information booths.
Polytechnic culinary students were also present to cook dishes for guests on-site.
Furthermore, MTI noted that 25 meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions (Mice) events attended by close to 90,000 delegates were held around the F1 period this year, which is similar to pre-Covid times. These include the Forbes Global CEO Conference held from Sep 26-27, as well as the Milken Institute Asia Summit held from Sep 28-30.
On Sunday (Oct 2), Red Bull’s Sergio Perez pipped Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in a race made more dramatic by the rain to clinch first place at the Singapore GP. Leclerc settled for second ahead of his teammate, Carlos Sainz, in third.
Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP, said the return of Formula 1 was highly anticipated, with tickets snapped up within hours of the launch earlier this year.
“In addition to the race action, we curated an exciting range of entertainment, interactive and gastronomic experiences for the fan zones, as well as introduced new grandstands and hospitality facilities,” he said.
Aside from the Formula 1 race, spectators also attended two new support races as well as over 100 hours of entertainment over the race weekend, including performances by Marshmello, Westlife, Black Eyed Peas, Suede and TLC.
Source: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/singapore-gp-2022-draws-largest-audience-in-13-year-history