Chart of the Day: Will overnight tourists become a thing of the past in Singapore?

Trips will grow longer as more attractions come onstream.

Singapore will succeed in its bid to attract more longer-staying tourists over the next few years, according to a report from BMI Research.

From now until 2019, BMI expects the average length of stay to increase as Singapore begins to attract more longer-stay visitors by developing the range of attractions on offer and gradually shifting away from a transit destination.

Singapore attracted some 3.42 million overnight visitors in 2015, marginally down from 3.44 million in 2014 and 3.6 million in 2013.

BMI Research also expects the islandwide hotel occupancy rate to remain steady at an impressive 86.3% despite an increase in the number of hotels and rooms, as the number of inbound visitors is also expected to increase. 

“The high occupancy rate is a positive reflection of the potential for returns on investment in Singapore's hotel industry and is one of the highest occupancy rates in the Asia Pacific region,” BMI said.