The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) wants to attract more independent visitors from China by giving them additional resources to plan their own trip.

Yesterday, it signed partnerships with four major Chinese digital players, which will curate and distribute information about Singapore's attractions over the next two to three years in a bid to entice independent travellers.

They are online travel services Alitrip and Tuniu, and social review sites Dianping and Mafengwo.

Chinese visitors can also get real-time help navigating Singapore through mobile platforms - YourSingapore WeChat Service account and Baidu Connect service - launched by STB yesterday.

Chinese visitors were Singapore's second-largest contributor to international visitor arrivals and tourism receipts last year, with 1.46 million visiting between January and August this year.

Melissa Lin