According to the legend, Sang Nila Utama a prince from Palembang (capital of Srivijaya) was out on a hunting trip when he caught sight of an animal he had never seen before. He took it as an auspicious sign and named it ‘Singapura’ derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Simha’ (Lion) and ‘Pura’ (city). Located at the tip of the Malay peninsula the natural point of sea routes, the city flourished as a trading post for vessels such as Chinese junks, Arab Dhows and Portuguese battleships.

Now officially known as the ‘Republic of Singapore’, it became independent in 1965 and has since grown at a rapid pace to become one of the most developed countries in the world. It has been declared the most expensive country to live in the world continuously since 2013 and has the second highest GDP per capita (PPP) in the world. Tourism is one of the main contributors to the economy with millions of tourists visiting Singapore every year.