Categories: Travel

Singapore’s goal is to surpass pre-Covid levels of Indian tourist arrivals, says STB

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Singapore is gearing up to welcome back Indian tourists in record numbers this year, with hopes of surpassing pre-Covid levels of arrivals. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is focusing on attracting visitors from India through various segments such as family, MICE, and film tourism.

In 2023, Singapore saw a footfall of 1.07 million visitors from India, which is 76% of the pre-Covid era. During January-March 2024, over 2,45,380 Indians have already visited Singapore, marking an 81.8% recovery from the pre-Covid period. The ‘Garden City’ had received 2,99,990 Indian tourists during the same period in 2019.

Markus Tan, STB’s regional director for India, Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, expressed confidence in achieving pre-Covid levels of tourist arrivals from India this year. With an increase in the number of Indian passports, a rising middle class, and strong connectivity between the two countries, the goal seems attainable.

STB is also focusing on attracting business travelers through Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events. Additionally, the board is exploring opportunities in the cruise segment, with plans to collaborate with Disney Adventure ship to develop a cruise product exclusively home ported from Singapore.

With Bollywood playing a significant role in influencing travel decisions, STB is in talks with production houses for collaborations to showcase Singapore to the Indian audience. The strong connectivity between the two countries, with 17 Indian cities connected to Singapore via 7 airlines, is expected to boost Indian travelers visiting the Garden City in 2024.

As global travel recovery continues, STB remains optimistic about the overall tourism growth this year, aiming to welcome around 15-16 million international visitors, which would be 78-84% of pre-Covid levels. With a strategic focus on key segments and collaborations, Singapore is poised to reclaim its position as a top destination for Indian tourists.

Team@GQN.