SINGAPORE: The number of tourists to Singapore increased by 115% in 2023, from 6.3 million in 2022 to 13.6 million.
The number of visitors in 2023 was in line with the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) prediction of 12–14 million.
This was almost 71% of the total in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which stopped all foreign travel.
Strong demand from a variety of Singapore’s essential markets, led by Indonesia (2.3 million), China (1.4 million), and Malaysia (1.1 million), was the main driver of the rise in tourist arrivals. South Korea, Australia, and the US were the other important markets.
In 2023, Singapore’s tourism receipts are predicted to reach S$24.5 billion (US$18.2 billion) to S$26 billion, above the S$18 billion to S$21 billion STB had predicted.
These represent roughly 88–94% of 2019 levels, based on data that STB issued on Thursday (Feb 1).
Compared to the same period in 2019, tourism receipts from January to September 2023 have either recovered close to pre-pandemic levels or exceeded them, according to STB.
Excluding sightseeing, entertainment, and gaming, China, Indonesia, and Australia contributed S$2.3 billion, S$2.2 billion, and S$1.5 billion in tourism receipts during the first nine months of 2023, respectively.
