Singapore expects visitor arrivals to hit a record of around 12 million this year, helped by the success of the city-state’s two multi-billion-dollar casinos, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday.

He made the remarks in an address to members of the ruling People’s Action Party, Channel News Asia reported on Monday.

His comment indicates Singapore expects visitor arrivals this year will rise about 24% from last year’s 9.68 million.

 

Singapore legalised casinos in 2005 as part of a plan to double visitor arrivals to 17 million by 2015.