SINGAPORE — The travel fair organised by a breakaway group of agents from the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) saw big crowds on its opening day, with many saying they were drawn by the chances of good deals being up for grabs.

By 8pm, 26,500 people had turned up for the three-day Travel Revolution Fair held at Marina Bay Sands, far higher than the 14,400 who turned up on the first day of the NATAS fair held last month. Average daily visitorship for the NATAS fair last year was 17,000.

Yesterday, the organisers pulled out the stops to woo shoppers. For example, there were nine banks — more than double that at the NATAS fair — offering discounts and freebies such as suitcases. Other vendors offered neck cushions and selfie sticks.

In total, there were more than 70 exhibitors, including 30 outbound tour agencies and 20 airlines and national tourism boards.

Ms Jane Chang, Chan Brothers’ head of marketing communications and a member of the working committee for the rival fair, said: “We had concerns because the fair started on a public holiday and we thought people might have made plans.”

The fair was pushed back by a week following the death of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on March 23.

The widely-publicised spat between the two factions broke out in November last year, with 24 tour agencies, including big boys such as Dynasty Travel, SA Tours, CTC Travel and Chan Brothers, complaining about a lack of transparency, among other things. They also announced plans to boycott the NATAS fair and organise their own event.

Following the boycott, the number of exhibitors at the NATAS fair plunged from 161 last year to 92 this year. To draw the crowds, its organisers offered complimentary shuttle bus services and free admission.

At the Travel Revolution Fair yesterday, visitors told TODAY they were attracted to the big-name tour agencies at the fair. “The main reason I came here is because the big guys are here and I expect prices to be more competitive,” said sales manager Vincent Lee, 50, who booked a trip to Taiwan next month for his family of three.

Engineer Yvonne Chua, 56, who booked a tour package to Jiangxi, China, at the NATAS fair, shopped for family tour packages to Japan or Korea yesterday. She felt the two fairs distinguished themselves with different offerings. “From what I can see here, only CTC Travel is offering a similar package to Jiangxi. The price is about the same,” she said.

Others, such as 35-year-old executive He Liping, felt that freebies were what set yesterday’s fair apart.

“I went to the NATAS fair and the price for a trip to Hokkaido is about the same as here. What’s different here is the credit card promotion — I get a free luggage,” said Ms He.

With the robust numbers on the first day, organisers said they plan to hold a second fair in the second half of the year — going head to head with the biannual NATAS fair once again.

“We’ve been speaking to vendors and lots of them have said they’re pleased with the overall traffic and they’re keen to take part again. We’re currently working out everyone’s availability,” said Ms Chang.

Organisers are hoping to see 80,000 visitors and clock S$100 million in sales volume by the end of the fair tomorrow.