Singapore Garden Festival - First in Asia to win the International Garden Tourism - Achievement of the Year Award

Singapore, 2 October 2014– Singapore Garden Festival (SGF), the premier tropical garden and flower show that concluded recently at Gardens by the Bay (16-24 August 2014) with some 300,000 visitors, has been awarded the 2014 International Garden Tourism – Achievement of The Year Award. The Award was presented today at the Gardens Without Limits Conference in Metz, France.

Awarded by the Canadian Garden Tourism Council as a part of the biennial Garden Tourism Conference, the award acknowledges best practices and recognises organisations and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of the garden experience as a tourism attraction. The Singapore Garden Festival was the only Asian garden / garden festival nominated for the Achievement of the Year Award and edged out other gardens and festivals such as Sweden’s City of Malmö, New Zealand’s Dunedin Botanic Garden, United Kingdom’s West Dean College & Gardens, and Dubai’s Miracle Garden to become the first festival in Asia to clinch this prestigious award.

The Festival’s move from an indoor venue to Singapore’s horticulture themed leisure attraction, Gardens by the Bay, was one of the key considerations for the Award.

“Singapore Garden Festival’s transformation into an indoor and outdoor garden experience reaching 300,000 visitors is a tremendous achievement which the international jury wish to acknowledge and underline with the International Garden Tourism Achievement Award,” said Michel Gauthier, Executive Director, Canadian Garden Council and Manager of the Garden Tourism Awards Program.

The International Garden Tourism Awards nominations are selected by a jury of garden and tourism sector leaders from four countries. Winners are selected based on tourism performance, measured primarily by how it has contributed to make the garden experience more attractive to the tourism industry.

Receiving the award on behalf of the Festival was Dennis Lim, Deputy Director, Singapore Garden Festival. Mr Lim said, “We are honoured to receive the Achievement of the Year Award. This award is a testament to how the Singapore Garden Festival has blossomed over the years into the internationally renowned one it is today, and an affirmation of the high standards visitors can continue to expect in future Festivals. Our first indoor and outdoor gardens at this year’s Festival at Gardens by the Bay have also proved a success, making a difference to visitors’ magical garden experience”.

The Singapore Garden Festival is the third recipient of the International Garden Tourism - Achievement of the Year Award. Past winners included: Gardens Without Limits Conference from France (2013) and Royal Horticulture Society Garden Wisley from United Kingdom (2011).   This is Singapore’s second International Garden Tourism Award. In 2012, the Singapore Botanic Gardens was awarded the International Garden Tourism - Garden of the Year Award.

Singapore Garden Festival returns in 2016 to its permanent home at Gardens by the Bay. Details on the event date will be announced when available. For more information, please visitwww.singaporegardenfestival.com or Facebook page www.facebook.com/SGGardenFest