This optimism was very much in evidence on Friday at the first of the year's two Natas Travel fairs. Within three hours of the fair's opening at the Singapore Expo, 6,600 people had turned up to check out the offerings from the 140 exhibitors.

According to the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore chief executive Robert Khoo, this was about 3,000 more than usual.

Queues had started forming at 10.30am, well before the official noon start time.

Within 10 minutes of the official opening, Chan Brothers Travel had their first sale. Ms Soh Hui Fen, 29, a chemist, had bought a package to Hokkaido, Japan for herself and her husband. She said she had queued for half an hour outside to buy the package 'at a good price'.

Over at Five Stars Tours, the tills were ringing right from the start, said deputy general manager Chris Tay.

In fact, the agents were so confident of Singaporeans' willingness to spend - and spend big - on travel that they put many expensive offerings on the table.

Among the tours for sale were those to the US, Europe and Australia and to exotic destinations such as Eastern Europe, Turkey and South Africa, said Ruth Lim, marketing and communications manager at Sino-America Tours.

High-end tours to Bhutan and Nepal, which cost between $4,000 and $6,000, were also available.

Singaporeans were also willing to shell money out for travel because the weakening US greenback and strong Singapore dollar made destinations like New York cheaper.

Read the full report in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.