Cheap motels and swaying palm bushes have lengthy attracted vacationers to Southeast Asia, however Singapore is doubling down on a special technique — specializing in growing tourism receipts as a substitute of traveler arrivals.
Officers on Friday outlined a plan to extend tourism income within the city-state from a record-breaking $29.8 million in 2024 to $47 million-$50 million within the subsequent 15 years.
Singapore’s “Tourism 2040” technique facilities on growing demand from two distinct teams — enterprise and stopover vacationers, Grace Fu, Singapore’s minister for sustainability and the surroundings, mentioned on the nation’s Tourism Trade Convention 2025.
Officers purpose to triple tourism income from so-called “Mice” vacationers, or those that journey to attend conferences, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, Fu mentioned.
“On common, a Mice customer spends two occasions as a lot as a leisure customer, making it an exceptionally invaluable section for Singapore,” she mentioned. “The worldwide Mice sector [is] anticipated to double in worth over the approaching decade.”
The nation can also be trying to develop a brand new Mice hub within the downtown space of Singapore, mentioned Fu.
Advantages of the Mice trade transcend tourism receipts, Singapore Tourism Board CEO Melissa Ow mentioned on the occasion.
They “will additional deepen our connection to precedence industries, allow us to develop our financial heft by convening influential actors and ideas leaders in Singapore, thereby amplifying our standing because the World’s Finest Mice Metropolis,” she mentioned.
Ow introduced that Singapore had secured its largest Mice occasion but, Herbalife Extravaganza 2026, which she mentioned is anticipated to attract 25,000 customer arrivals.
Stopover vacationers are additionally anticipated to carry extra tourism income, particularly after the opening of Changi Airport’s Terminal 5, which is scheduled for the mid-2030s.
A brand new terminal opening within the mid-2030s is about to extend stopover journey at Singapore Changi Airport. The airport was named Skytrax’s “World’s Finest Airport” in 2025, its thirteenth time holding this title.
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World-class sights and cruising
Nonetheless, leisure vacationers will stay vital to the city-state, Ow mentioned.
To draw them, Singapore will proceed to give attention to offering “world-class sights,” she mentioned — a technique that the nation has employed to compete with cheaper tourism attracts within the area.
New sights are within the works, together with the Singapore Oceanarium slated to open later this yr, adopted by the Porsche Expertise Heart and a brand new Science Centre in 2027, mentioned Ow.
Singapore additionally goals to strengthen its place in Asia’s rising cruising trade, she mentioned.
She referenced the high-profile launch of Disney Cruise Line’s “Disney Journey” — which is able to start working in Singapore in December — and the introduction of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collections’ Luminara, a luxurious superyacht set to start crusing from Singapore in December.
Grace Fu, Singapore’s minister for sustainability and the surroundings, mentioned Singapore is increasing the Marina Bay Cruise Centre to assist set up Singapore as a prime spot for cruisers in Asia. “This $40 million funding will enhance the terminal capability from 7,000 to 12,000 passengers, reinforcing Singapore’s standing as a number one cruise hub within the area.”
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Past cruising, the island can also be well-positioned to seize an increase in wellness tourism, mentioned Ow, citing its “distinctive worth proposition as a metropolis in nature.”
She mentioned Singapore Tourism Board recognized longevity journey and “wellness motels” as methods to drive customer spend and repeat visits.
Leisure ambitions
The Singapore Tourism Board will intensify efforts to attract extra world-class sports activities, life-style and music occasions, Ow mentioned, citing upcoming concert events by Girl Gaga, whereas Elton John and Ok-pop rapper G-Dragon are set to carry out on the Singapore Grand Prix in October.
Ow mentioned new venues will open in the course of the subsequent a number of years, together with a brand new theater at Gardens by the Bay and an area at Marina Bay Sands, the island’s largest resort.
For younger basketball followers, Singapore will host an NBA Rising Stars Invitational for teens aged 18 and below — a primary for the league — with unique teaching periods and meet-and-greets, mentioned Fu.
Singapore welcomed 16.5 million worldwide arrivals in 2024, properly under the 19.1 million that arrived in 2019, based on the Singapore Tourism Board.
Ow mentioned the board is figuring out new tourism markets, comparable to Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan, to extend and diversify guests to Singapore.
