THIS year's Singapore Food Festival has been cut short from one month to 10 days. But the Singapore Tourism Board, which co-organises the event, insists that the economic downturn was not a factor in the decision to 'streamline' the festival, now in its 16th year.

Mr Andrew Phua, STB's director of cluster development in tourism shopping and dining, says: 'We feel that an event that spans over two weekends which has depth, soul and good programming will still be able to deliver very good experiences.'

He explains that during month-long festivals in previous years, there was often a tendency for the excitement to 'fizzle out'.

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