Tourists are spending on Singapore-made and designed goods, rather than luxury items from international brands.

Ms Arum Lintang and her three friends from Surabaya, Indonesia, for instance, were shopping at home-grown design retailer Naiise in Orchard Gateway yesterday afternoon, despite having landed at 1am.

Ms Lintang, 23, said they came here to search for inspiration from local designers.

Her friend, Mr Tectona Radike, 25, said: "In Indonesia, the things are cheaper, but the quality and design are not as good."

The designers are on their third visit to Singapore, and were at Naiise based on the recommendation of a friend.

They have allocated more than $200 for spending on souvenirs and items either produced locally or featuring Singaporean designs, such as postcards with hand-drawn Singapore landmarks.

One frequent tourist from Hong Kong, who wanted to be known only as Madam Yang, said she mainly purchased local snacks such as pineapple tarts. She added that there was a wider variety of luxury goods in Hong Kong that cost less.

Danish tourists Julia Mattensen and Amanda Kurtsen expressed similar sentiments, preferring mass-market stores such as Swedish fashion retailer H&M and British brand Topshopover Gucci and Chanel.