Mactan, CEBU – Singapore’s tourism sector continues to post steady gains while shifting toward higher-value visitors, even as global uncertainties persist, tourism officials said.
“We are quite pleased with the results so far,” Kwan Su Min, Singapore Tourism Board’s Director of Communications and Marketing Group, citing 3% year-on-year growth in visitor arrivals. “Despite global headwinds, we hope to achieve a strong full-year performance.”
International arrivals are projected to reach 17 to 18.5 million for the year.
This was highlighted during the NTO Media Briefing at the 45th ASEAN Tourism Forum in Mactan, Cebu.
Receipts outpace arrivals
Tourism receipts reached S$15.7 billion from January to June 2025, reflecting roughly 5% growth and outpacing visitor arrival growth.
“We are pursuing quality over volume,” Kwan said. “From an economic perspective, we want higher-value visitors rather than simply playing a volume game.”
This indicates that Singapore’s focus on high-spending travelers is translating into stronger economic returns.
Regional markets drive arrivals
Singapore’s top visitor sources remain China and Indonesia, followed by Malaysia. Southeast Asia continues to be a strong contributor, with Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines accounting for about one-third of total international arrivals.
Spending behavior varies by market. Travelers from China, Indonesia, and Australia tend to spend heavily on sightseeing and food experiences, while visitors from Australia and the United States show strong accommodation spending.
“This diversity means we must tailor our offerings to different visitor needs,” she explained.
Business travel remains a major economic driver. From January to June, business visitors spent approximately S$3.07 billion, with expenditures concentrated on accommodation, entertainment, gaming, and related services.
Officials noted that business visitors contribute significantly to tourism receipts due to higher per-capita spending.
Stable stay patterns
Visitor behavior has stabilized following pandemic disruptions. The average length of stay has returned to 2.5 days, consistent with pre-pandemic norms.
Hotel performance remains strong, with average occupancy at 82.4%, matching the same period in 2024. To support demand, Singapore added more than 800 new hotel rooms in 2025, bringing total inventory to approximately 74,000 rooms.
Officials said maintaining sufficient room supply is critical to sustaining visitor growth.
“We are looking forward in terms of our hospitality, we talked about how many new hotels that we have launched in 2025, and we still continue to bring in new concepts. We see people are spending a lot more on accommodation, and we definitely made new concepts to ensure the kind of appeal to our visitors,” Kwan related.
Recent and upcoming developments reflect a shift toward experiential and luxury concepts. Recently opened Raffles Sentosa Singapore, the country’s first all-villa resort, strengthens the country’s ultra-luxury positioning while Parkroyal Collection enhancements reinforces sustainability and wellness hospitality trends. New lifestyle and premium hotels will open through 2026–2030. These are Mandai Rainforest Resort, Mövenpick Singapore, and Mövenpick Living, and new brands Mett Singapore, Mama Shelter, Colugo Camp at Mandai, and The Laurus at Sentosa. For Manila Bay Sands’ expansion, they’re looking at a luxury hotel tower with a public rooftop attraction with 15,000 entertainment area and an additional premium MICE space
Tourism 2040 roadmap unveiled
Singapore is planning long-term growth through its Tourism 2040 roadmap, launched in May 2025. The strategy aims to position the city-state as a world-class destination offering diverse, sustainable, and meaningful experiences.
“This roadmap guides the next phase of quality tourism growth,” Kwan said. “It anticipates changing travel needs and emphasizes wellness, sustainability, and people-focused experiences.”
By 2040, Singapore aims to be a destination that inspires global visitors, remains a vibrant home for residents, and serves as an innovation hub for tourism industries. Tourism receipts are projected to reach S$47–50 billion.
Capturing high-value demand
Singapore is strengthening its position as a global hub for MICE, with plans to triple MICE tourism by 2040.
“MICE visitors spend nearly twice as much as leisure travelers. This makes the segment a key driver of quality growth.”
Singapore continues to secure high-profile conventions aligned with strategic industries, while a new downtown MICE hub is being developed to support large-scale events and future demand.
Enhancing destination appeal
Singapore continues to refresh its tourism landscape through new attractions and immersive experiences designed to encourage repeat visits.
Recent additions include Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore, Rainforest Wild Asia developed by Mandai Wildlife Group, the Singapore Oceanarium in Sentosa, and new themed exhibits at Gardens by the Bay.
Upcoming developments include the Porsche Experience Center near Changi and major expansions at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, which will add new hotels, entertainment venues, and lifestyle experiences.
Kwan said that continuous reinvention is key to maintaining Singapore’s global competitiveness.
Major concerts, sporting events, and cultural festivals continue to strengthen Singapore’s global appeal. International performances and championships reinforce the city’s positioning as a lifestyle, sports, and entertainment destination.
Expanding air and cruise connectivity
With expanded capacity at Changi Airport, Singapore expects continued growth in passenger traffic and aims to convert more transit travelers into stopover visitors.
Cruise tourism is also expanding following terminal upgrades, enabling Singapore to host more homeporting vessels and luxury cruise calls in the coming years.
“We received numerous cruise calls from Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean, as well as luxury operators like Cordelia and Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, while Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Adventure is set to debut in March,” Kwan said, noting that these developments are expected to boost family and regional cruise travel..
Ultra-luxury cruise brand like Explora is also slated to call in the coming years, reflecting growing demand for premium maritime travel.
Looking ahead
Despite global uncertainties, Singapore remains confident in its long-term trajectory.
“We are not only planning for 2026,” the official said. “We are preparing for the next 15 years.”
With its focus on quality growth, infrastructure expansion, and diversified experiences, Singapore is positioning itself to remain one of the world’s leading tourism destinations.
