The Singapore Tourist Board (STB) is looking at using radio frequency identification technology (RFID) – similar to that launched in Disney theme parks earlier this year – to boost tourism spending and improve the country’s visitor experience.

Inspired by the success of the MyMagic+ wristbands at Disney World in Florida, the STB hopes the technology will be able to look at consumer behavioural insights and make the visitor experience smoother and more enjoyable.

From November 2014 to January 2015, 1,000 tags and 20 tag-reading detectors will be installed on a trial basis at two yet-to-be-determined locations – one a tourist attraction, the other a conference and exhibition venue.

In the first three months of the introduction of the RFID technology, Disney saw an eight per cent visitor spend increase at its Florida theme park. The STB will be looking to replicate these statistics, using the technology to make entrance to attractions and events simpler, while also making food/retail payments and linking to social media a much easier task.

According to tender documents, the devices will be able to request rights for social media use, post images to social media and suggest purchases based on registration information.

Disney’s MyMagic+ wristbands serve as an all access ticket to the resort, operating as room keys, theme park tickets and an optional payment method.

“Theoretically, when tourists can pay for goods or services in a more convenient way, like contactless payment, they feel less pain then parting with the actual cash,” said Wong King Yin, a lecturer at Nanyang Technological University’s Marketing and International Business division speaking to Today. “Then they will spend more, based on the results of extensive consumer behavioural studies.”

While the technology has so far been used to enhance visitor attractions, STB says that if the rollout is successful, then the same technology could be applied to hotels, transport and restaurants also.

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