Sands Expo to host largest orchid event

Sands Expo to host largest orchid event

BESIDES having a rare chance to view about 50,000 breeds of orchids, visitors to the largest event in the international orchid calendar can also be the first to check out Singapore's latest tourist attraction in November before it opens officially next year.

Tickets to the 20th World Orchid Conference (20WOC) will come with complimentary access to the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, 20WOC organisers told reporters at the Botanic Gardens yesterday. The 1.2ha Flower Dome slightly larger than two football fields will be open to 20WOC ticket-holders only for the duration of the event (see right).

The largest garden, Bay South, will be open to the public in June next year. Other parts of the Gardens will be opening in phases. This is the second time the conference, to be held from Nov 14 to Nov 20 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, is coming to Singapore. It was last held here in 1963.

The triennial event, which will cost $8 million to be held, will showcase orchids from 23 countries. A new orchid hybrid (right) was specially created for and named after the conference.

The organisers said Singapore was chosen not just because of the country's historical links to the flower, but also because of its importance as an orchid producer it is the third-largest exporter of fresh orchids in the world.

Dr Kiat W. Tan, the chairman of the 20WOC organising committee and chief executive officer of Gardens by the Bay, said: "By hosting the event...we are moving away from being an orchid-production centre to a world marketplace for orchids, where people come to buy and sell orchids."

~News courtesy of Omy~