Singapore logs $1.9b tourism receipts in 2021

This represents a decline in TRs when compared to 2020.

Singapore has logged $1.9b tourism receipts (TR) in 2021 despite continued border restrictions, data from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) showed.

The overall TR, however, declined compared to 2020 largely due to “the effect of strong tourism performance in the first two months of 2020,” according to the STB.

On the flip side, TR for the second and third quarters of 2021 was 92% higher compared to the same period in 2020.

Between January to September 2021, the TRs already reached $1.2b, with visitors from China contributing the most at $432m, followed by Indonesia with $127m, and India with $58m.

Meanwhile, Singapore recorded 330,000 international visitor arrivals (IVA) in 2021, which also represents an overall year-on-year decline.

China also ranked first amongst Singapore’s visitor source markets with 88,000 IVA, followed by India (54,000), and Indonesia (33,000).

STB also noted several improvements across industries in the tourism sector.

In the hotel industry, the average room rate increased by 2.7% to $158, whilst revenue per available room was steady at $89. The average occupancy rate, however, slightly declined by 1.01% to 56.2%.

MICE and leisure events also picked up in 2021, with more than 200 MCIE events held.

In terms of local tours, STB said there were close to 320,000 local participants.

To boost the attractions industry, the Museum of Ice Cream and SkyHelix Sentosa were also launched.

Meanwhile, the cruise industry saw over 400,000 domestic passengers set sail on close to 300 cruise sailings, following the rollout of the “cruises-to-nowhere” in late 2020.

In 2022, STB said it will ramp up efforts in its key source markets and deepen engagements with its tourism partners to “capture growth and inspire travel to Singapore.”

Amongst these efforts include the “Welcome Back to Singapore” campaign that STB has been working on with Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport Group.

STB said it will expand the campaign to Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Korea. The campaign was already launched in Germany and India, where vaccinated travel lanes have been established.

The board also vowed to work closely with  the Singapore Hotel Association to develop a hotel sustainability roadmap with strategies and targets for the industry, which will be launched later this year.”