Singapore is set to lead Southeast Asia’s tourism recovery, surpassing pre-pandemic visitor levels and outpacing regional competitors like Thailand and the Philippines, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

New research from WTTC forecasts that international arrivals to Singapore will reach nearly 16 million in 2025, marking a 9.6% increase over 2019 figures.The surge is largely fueled by record-breaking visitor numbers from India and China, despite a slower rebound in Chinese outbound travel globally.

India & China Drive Singapore’s Tourism Boom

• Indian arrivals are projected to rise from 1.11 million in 2019 to 1.25 million in 2025, the highest on record.
• Chinese tourists are expected to reach 2.8 million this year, with further growth anticipated in 2026.
• Neighboring countries like Malaysia and Thailand are also experiencing record tourism recoveries, though Singapore’s growth rate surpasses both.

WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson praised Singapore’s tourism trajectory:

“Singapore is setting the pace for global tourism growth, breaking records, and outpacing its regional rivals. With soaring visitor numbers from India and the return of Chinese travelers, Singapore’s tourism sector is stronger than ever, driving jobs, economic growth, and sustainability.”

Tourism’s Economic Impact on Singapore

Singapore’s Travel & Tourism sector is projected to contribute $66.1 billion to the economy in 2024, accounting for 9.8% of GDP and supporting a record 570,000 jobs.

By 2030, the sector is expected to:
Contribute nearly $80 billion, a 19% increase from 2019.
Support over 637,000 jobs, a 90,000 increase from pre-pandemic levels.

Southeast Asia’s overall travel sector is set to generate $379 billion in 2024, with projections to reach $551 billion by 2030—a 48% surge compared to 2019.

Singapore’s Sustainability Leadership in Aviation

Singapore is making strides in sustainable aviation, with greenhouse gas emissions from Travel & Tourism declining by 4.1% annually between 2019 and 2023. However, despite hosting the world’s largest Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant, low-carbon energy currently powers only 2.5% of the sector.

• The new SAF mandate will require all departing flights to use 1% SAF from 2026.
• In comparison, the UK and Japan have set 10% SAF adoption targets by 2030.

WTTC is urging the Singaporean government to accelerate SAF implementation and increase the minimum usage targets.

Outlook: Singapore’s Tourism Future

With record-breaking tourist arrivals, economic contributions, and sustainability goals, Singapore is cementing itself as Southeast Asia’s top travel destination.

The next challenge? Scaling up infrastructure and green initiatives to accommodate the booming sector.

As Singapore continues its tourism transformation, businesses and travelers alike can expect a stronger, more sustainable, and globally competitive travel industry in the years ahead.

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