(TAN): Singapore’s international visitor arrivals (IVA) and tourism receipts (TR) reached 330,000 and an estimated USD 1.9 billion respectively in 2021, the Singapore Tourism Board said.
While these numbers represent only a fraction of Singapore’s tourism performance prior to the pandemic, there have been encouraging signs of recovery in the tourism sector, with year-on-year growth in the last three quarters of 2021. The introduction of various travel arrangements, such as Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs), has encouraged the gradual return of international travellers. Domestic consumption has also been strong, as the tourism sector pivoted to develop new and innovative experiences for locals.
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Singapore Tourism Board CEO Keith Tan said: “While it will take time for tourism numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels, we are encouraged by the resilience of our tourism businesses, and their commitment to preserve good jobs, transform their businesses, and invest in new products and experiences. These efforts will strengthen Singapore’s appeal as we prepare to welcome more international visitors. We must anticipate setbacks and challenges even as the tourism industry recovers slowly. But I am confident that the tourism industry has learnt from its experiences, and is poised to recapture demand when it returns.”
Between January and December 2021, 330,000 international visitors arrived in Singapore. China (88,000), India (54,000) and Indonesia (33,000) were the top three visitor source markets in 2021.
Between January and September 2021, TR reached USD 1.2 billion. Visitors from China, Indonesia and India contributed USD 432 million, USD 127 million and USD 58 million in TR (excluding sightseeing, entertainment and gaming) respectively.
