SINGAPORE received 0.8 per cent more visitors in May from a year ago, a record for the month and matching the pace of growth in April, the government said.

Some 828,000 visitors arrived last month as travel and airline promotions pulled in more tourists from Vietnam, Australia, Japan, and a record number from India, the Singapore Tourism Board said on Friday.

Singapore, which is building two casinos for $11 billion, wants to grow its services sector to make up for jobs losses in its traditional mainstay manufacturing industry which is facing fierce competition from cheaper centres such as China and India.

The number of visitor days in May hit an estimated 3.5 million days, above the estimated 3.3 million days in April.

Hotels earned $182 million in room revenue in May, up 19.3 per cent from a year ago, but below the $186 million earned in April.

Average hotel room rates grew 28.2 per cent from a year ago to an estimated $249 in May, but below April's average of $254.

Bankers and business executives make up about a third of visitors to Singapore, a financial centre that competes with Hong Kong. -- REUTERS.