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Shen Sui Qing and her husband are among the growing number of Chinese tourists heading to Singapore for pleasure and business.

This is Ms Shen's second visit to Singapore.

The 25-year-old Shanghainese was here about three years ago for a business trip, but she says that visit was just too short.

This time she is here for 12 days with her husband and the couple is staying at Raffles The Plaza.

"I like the tropical climate, so I come to Singapore -- and shopping and eating," Ms Shen said.

"My favourite food is laksa, satay, fish curry, fish head curry and the best places I like to go are Orchard Road, and Boat Quay and Clark Quay," she said.

Last December, there was a 21 percent year-on-year increase in the number of travellers from China.

The Tourism Board says their favourite attractions are Sentosa, Jurong Bird Park, Chinatown and of course Orchard Road.

Tourists from India are also up. In December, numbers were 18 percent higher compared to a year ago.

And it was arrivals from such developing regional markets which helped Singapore to exceed its target of six million visitors.

Looking ahead, unlike SARS, which hit tourism here badly, the bird flu has not had the same effect yet.

"We heard about it before we travelled, but it didn't concern us because Singapore is a very clean country," one tourist said.

"It didn't sound as bad as SARS, for example. Yes, if we'd come over when SARS was happening then I'd have felt a bit worried about it," another said.

"I don't think there's any problem; I don't find any problem coming here," said another tourist.