FOR RELEASE WITH STORY BC-SINGAPORE-TOURISM, 1997-12-05 (photo)

FOR RELEASE WITH FEATURE BC-SINGAPORE-TOURISM -Two unidentified Taiwanese tourists (L) hold an albino python at a roadside snake charmer's stand. For the first time in a decade, Singapore is struggling to lure back tourists as keen competetion from neighbouring countries has taken its toll on visitor arrivals here. Limited land space and lack of natural resources provide holiday makers a scene of oil tankers just offshore of Sentosa beach while backpackers are skipping this modern, well-planned Asian city because of surging costs. Photo taken 3 December 1997. FEATURE SINGAPORE