Location Spotlight: Why Singapore Is Like a 'City in a Garden'

Singapore is an iconic city, boasting a futuristic skyline, urban gardens and some of the best food in the world. Just Global shares their love for the city and why it’s the latest addition to their expanding global footprint.

LBB> What makes Singapore special?

Singapore is a unique example of multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-religious society where different cultures coexist in one space and people live harmoniously together. 

From massive skyscrapers to period shophouses to luxuriant greenery and squeaky-clean streets, Singapore’s landscape of towering architecture with nature weaved throughout, adds on to its reputation of a ‘City in a Garden’ and being a clean and green city, making it an exceptional place to film.

Singapore is also known as a financial hub and its vibrant market that is highly competitive. Singapore heavily focuses on technological development and consists of excellent infrastructure and a highly skilled labour force.

Apart from being known as a thriving financial hub, Singapore is also known for its hill stations, mountain ranges, beaches, and nature in this city-state.

From serene gardens to hills to beaches, Singapore is a home to a wealth of experiences in its natural spaces. Here are some of the natural spaces and beaches Singapore have to offer.

​Bukit Timah Hill/Bukit Timah Nature Reserve​

Gardens by the Bay

Palawan Beach

Singapore is also home to some of these rare and endangered creatures and plant species which can be found in several nature reserves. Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay is also home to thousands of species of flora and fauna, preserving numerous endangered plant species. 

Lesser Mousedeer 

Grandidier's Baobab

LBB> Why should production companies and teams shoot here?

With a unique blend of Asian and Western influence, Singapore is a thriving metropolis with a vibrant mix of cultures and ethnicities where many different types of content can be produced and shot in Singapore to portray various stories.

Singapore also stands out with its growing pool of local media talent and presence of international media companies such as Disney and Discovery. The city has also been gradually building up its profile as a go-to country in Asia for production opportunities. Given its excellent infrastructure, abundance of greenery and beautiful skyscrapers, Singapore will be a suitable place to find desired spots for your shoot.

LBB> How would you pitch Singapore to companies/brands looking to break into the APAC market? Are there any key differences in B2B consumer behaviour that should be noted?

B2B in Asia is complex, dynamic and challenging compared to other regions of the world. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Focus on your target market, strengthen your social media presence, give rewards and incentives for content sharing, get involved in public events and community activities, collaborate with other firms. B2C brands tend to focus their campaigns on generating brand awareness whereas B2B organisations should focus on customer satisfaction and retention.

LBB> What are the best languages to run ads in the region? 

The main languages spoken in Singapore are English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Most Singaporeans will be able to speak and understand English.

If content can be translated to a local language, the local language is still the best method to reach out to audiences.

LBB> What would be your number one tip to any brand launching in Singapore?

Develop an understanding of the local audience and market trends to frame an integrated strategy for launching and marketing your brand in Singapore. You can achieve this by building brand awareness among the local community and strive to set yourself apart from other brands and find a niche.

LBB> What are the top locations and attractions to visit in Singapore?

Marina Bay Sands, Orchard Road, Sentosa and Jewel Changi Airport. These locations are not only popular among tourists, but they are also the locals’ favourite places to sightsee and hang out.

Some of our favorites are The Mill, Esplanade and the classic shophouses in Chinatown. 

LBB> What are the best bars/restaurants? Any hidden gem favourites?

Some popular bar areas are Telok Ayer, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay. There are also rooftop bars with a gorgeous view of Singapore’s skyline.

Definitely check out local hawker centres such as East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Chinatown Complex Food Centre, and Newton Food Centre, just to name a few. Not forgetting our local delights such as chili crab and chicken rice which can be found at restaurants such as Jumbo Seafood and Boon Tong Kee respectively.

LBB> Any other tourist recommendations?

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is worth a visit. Singapore received its first UNESCO World Heritage nomination for its botanical gardens. The botanic gardens preserve pieces of Singapore's wilder heritage.

For a look at what life in Singapore was like before it was all about glamor and skyscrapers, visit the small island of Pulau Ubin, where fewer than 100 people still live in the same simple way as they did in the 1960s. It is a peaceful, rustic place where tourists can enjoy unspoiled forests and diverse wildlife. The island is also home to the Chek Jawa Wetlands, which contain a coral reef teeming with sea life. The island is easily reached by boat, a 10-minute ride that departs from Changi Point Ferry Terminal.

Explore the Bugis and Kampong Glam area to have a look around the area’s thriving cultural scene. Some of the famous streets and religious buildings in these two vibrant and ethnically diverse neighbourhoods are Haji Lane, Arab Street, Bugis Street, Sultan Mosque, Sri Krishnan Temple and Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple.