There are “encouraging signs of recovery” in Singapore’s tourism sector, based on the Singapore Tourism Board.
Visitor arrivals reached 330,000 and tourism receipts reached an estimated $1.9 billion Singapore {dollars} ($1.Four billion) in 2021, based on data published today by the nation’s tourism board.
These numbers, nevertheless, are down from 2020, when Singapore acquired 2.7 million guests, who spent almost $4.eight billion Singapore {dollars} that yr.
Singapore’s tourism sector recorded total year-on-year declines in customer numbers and tourism expenditures from 2020 to 2021, as a result of “strong tourism performance in the first two months of 2020,” based on the media launch.
Singapore closed its borders in March 2020 in a bid to stem the unfold of Covid-19.
Acknowledging that final yr’s tourism numbers symbolize “only a fraction of Singapore’s tourism performance prior to the pandemic,” the Singapore Tourism Board stated it’s seeing constructive developments corresponding to development within the final three quarters of 2021.
During this time, worldwide customer arrivals elevated 221%, in comparison with the identical timeframe in 2020.
A sluggish restoration
In 2021, China (88,000), India (54,000) and Indonesia (33,000) had been the highest supply markets for worldwide guests to Singapore.
From January to September final yr, guests from China spent SG$432 million, these from Indonesia spent SG$127 million and Indian guests spent SG$58 million. The numbers exclude sightseeing, leisure and gaming, STB stated.
We should anticipate setbacks and challenges even because the tourism business recovers slowly.
Keith Tan
CEO, Singapore Tourism Board
It’s a begin for Singapore’s tourism business, which in 2019 made almost SG$28 billion ($21 billion) in tourism receipts.
“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,” Keith Tan, CEO on the Singapore Tourism Board, stated in an announcement.
Singapore stated just lately it will proceed to restrict the quantity of people that can enter the nation by means of its quarantine-free, vaccinated travel lane arrangement. The gross sales of flight tickets will probably be capped at 50% of allotted quotas.
However, some restrictions are easing. Those who enter the nation from Jan. 24 by way of vaccinated travel lane (VTL) flights can do unsupervised, self-administered speedy Covid assessments for seven days after arrival in the event that they intend to depart their place of residence. Submission of outcomes shouldn’t be required.
Hotels and cruises
During the pandemic, the tourism sector tailored to give attention to home tourism, by means of initiatives such because the SingapoRediscovers marketing campaign and the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers scheme. Both had been launched in 2020 and had been geared toward encouraging Singaporeans and residents to spend on motels and sights.
Several new motels opened in 2021, together with The Clan, Duxton Reserve and Oasia Resort Sentosa. The common occupancy charge for Singapore motels final yr was 56% — decrease by 1% from 2020 which had the good thing about two months of vacationers earlier than borders had been closed.
Singapore Airlines crew members and vacationers on the transit corridor of Changi Airport in Singapore on Jan. 14, 2021.
Roslan Rahman | AFP | Getty Images
The cruise business additionally “rebounded strongly,” based on the tourism board, as a result of reputation of so-called “cruises-to-nowhere” which began in late 2020.
“The introduction of various travel arrangements, such as Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs), has encouraged the gradual return of international travelers. Domestic consumption has also been strong, as the tourism sector pivoted to develop new and innovative experiences for locals,” the tourism board stated.
To put together for a full restoration, Singapore can also be launching a “Tourism Careers Hub” in 2022 to coach and replace abilities for tourism employees and companies, in addition to these occupied with moving into the business, based on STB.
— CNBC’s Abigail Ng contributed to this report.
Correction: Due to an modifying error, Singapore’s tourism receipts for 2019 was misstated. The correct quantity is $21 billion.
