TOURISM numbers are at a record high - Singapore welcomed 883,000 visitors in January, up by 6.9 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.

But not everyone is celebrating. The hotel room crunch has worsened, say travel agents, and those most badly affected are tourists who stay at mid-priced hotels.

Business travellers and top-tier tourists can stay at five- or six-star hotels and budget travellers have their pick of no-frills hotel chains such as Hotel 81 and Fragrance Hotel.

But for tourists who are willing to fork out $150 to $230 a night, there is just no room at the inn.

Travel agents say mid-priced hotels such as Windsor Hotel in MacPherson Road, The Elizabeth Hotel in Mount Elizabeth, Allson Hotel and Hotel Royal@Queens in Victoria Street and Lion City Hotel in Tanjong Katong Road are fully booked most of the time.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.