Singapore is set to break tourism records in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic highs with nearly 16 million arrivals, driven by surging visitors from India and China.

Singapore Poised to Shatter Tourism Records in 2025, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Highs

Singapore is on the verge of a historic tourism milestone, with international arrivals set to break all previous records in 2025. According to the latest analysis from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the city-state is projected to welcome nearly sixteen million visitors—a remarkable 9.6% surge beyond pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.

This puts Singapore ahead of other major Southeast Asian destinations, including Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, in the post-pandemic tourism race.

India and China Drive Singapore’s Tourism Boom

A major catalyst for this unprecedented growth is India’s surging outbound travel. Indian visitor numbers are forecast to reach 1.25 million in 2025, setting a new record and significantly outpacing the 1.11 million arrivals in 2019.

Meanwhile, despite the slow recovery of Chinese outbound tourism worldwide, Singapore is bucking the trend. A record 2.8 million Chinese visitors are expected in 2025, with continued growth anticipated in the following years.

Regional Tourism on the Rise

Thailand is also on track for a record-breaking year, with international arrivals expected to climb by 5% beyond previous highs. The Philippines is approaching its own milestone, nearing its 2019 peak.

Meanwhile, Malaysia is set for a tourism renaissance, with visitor numbers predicted to exceed 2019 levels by nearly 10%. The country is also expected to break its previous all-time high from 2016 by an additional 7% in 2025.

Tourism’s Powerhouse Impact on Singapore’s Economy

Tourism is fueling Singapore’s economic engine at an extraordinary pace. The industry is projected to contribute $66.1 billion to Singapore’s GDP in 2024, accounting for 9.8% of the economy, while supporting a record-breaking 570,000 jobs.

By the end of the decade, the sector is expected to inject nearly $80 billion into Singapore’s economy—an impressive 19% surge beyond its 2019 peak. At the same time, employment in the sector is set to grow by over 90,000 jobs, exceeding 637,000 by 2030.

Leading the Way in Sustainable Aviation

Singapore has made significant strides in reducing travel-related carbon emissions. Between 2019 and 2023, the country’s greenhouse gas emissions from tourism fell by 4.1% per year, shrinking the sector’s share from 23.5% to 18.4% of the nation’s total emissions.

However, despite hosting the world’s largest Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production facility, SAF adoption in Singapore remains under 2.5% of the travel industry’s energy mix. The government plans to mandate that all departing flights incorporate at least 1% SAF by 2026, but this still lags behind global leaders like the United Kingdom and Japan, which have set a 10% SAF target by 2030.

Southeast Asia’s Tourism Boom and Environmental Challenges

Across the broader Southeast Asian region, Travel & Tourism is expected to generate a staggering $379 billion USD in 2024, comprising 9.7% of the region’s total GDP while supporting 42.5 million jobs. By 2030, the sector’s economic impact is projected to skyrocket to $551 billion USD—an increase of 48% compared to 2019—with employment in tourism surpassing 51.5 million jobs.

However, sustainability remains a pressing concern. The sector’s environmental footprint in Southeast Asia shrank by 7% annually from 2019 to 2023, reducing its contribution to regional emissions from over 10% to just under 7%.

Despite this progress, low-carbon energy sources still account for less than 5.5% of the tourism industry’s power supply. The WTTC is calling on regional governments to accelerate SAF adoption, urging authorities to implement stronger mandates immediately rather than waiting for later deadlines.

The Future of Tourism in Singapore and Southeast Asia

With record-breaking visitor arrivals, unprecedented economic contributions, and a growing push for sustainability, Singapore and Southeast Asia are at the forefront of a global tourism resurgence. However, balancing growth with environmental responsibility will be key to ensuring the industry’s long-term success in the years ahead.

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