Asian travelers fuel 13% spike in tourist arrivals in SG

The number of tourists that flocked Singapore in 2011 soared to 13.2 million.

A release by the Singapore government announced that tourism receipts in Singapore grew 18% on-year, for a total of S$22.3 billion in 2011.

According to the Singapore Tourism Board, total tourism receipts also grew 9% on-year in Q4 2011, totalling S$5.6 billion.

STB also reported that a record 13.2 million visitors arrived in Singapore in 2011, up 13% on-year. Tourism spending from Asia saw the strongest growth, accounting for 76% of total visitor numbers.

The rise in visitor arrivals also saw a corresponding increase in hotel room revenue which grew 28% to S$2.6 billion.

In all, tourism value-added comprised about 4% of gross domestic product in 2011.