Singapore topped the list as a price-competitive shopping destination in the region, though its share of tourist spending has dropped in recent years. In the survey, Hong Kong was ranked second followed by Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Sydney, Shanghai and Tokyo.

The survey commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) showed that the image of the city-state as a safe, reliable place to shop remains untarnished.  “Hopefully, it will show tourists that it is still worth coming to Singapore to shop, that it is not expensive.”

The Straits Times quoted Sulian Tan-Wijaya, director of the shopping division of the STB.  Broken down into categories, Singapore came out first for shopping deals in consumer electronics and electrical goods. Dubai took the top spot in apparel, Kuala Lumpur in cosmetics, Hong Kong in handbags and other leather goods and Bangkok in watches and jewellery.

The Singapore's share of Asian tourism spending has dropped sharply, from 8.2 per cent in 1998 to 5.8 percent in 2002.  Malalysia's share rose from 3.7 per cent to 8.8 per cent in the same period. Dubai’s share of retail space is expected to double from the current 17 per cent to 34 per cent of the total GCC retail space within five years. Dubai’s retail space is expected to increase by 1.5 million sq. metres from the existing 600,000 sq. metres.