International arrivals set to break records in 2025 for Singapore

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals that Singapore is on monitor to smash its all-time worldwide arrivals document this yr, outpacing different main Southeast Asian locations similar to Thailand and the Philippines.

According to the most recent analysis, worldwide arrivals are projected to attain nearly 16MN in 2025 – 9.6% above pre-pandemic ranges in 2019.

India is fuelling a serious tourism surge, with arrivals anticipated to leap from simply over 1.11MN in 2019 to 1.25MN in 2025 — the very best on document.

Despite a sluggish rebound in outbound journey from China globally, document numbers of Chinese guests are set to head to Singapore this yr, to attain nearly 2.8MN, setting the stage for additional development in 2026.

International arrivals to Thailand are additionally set to break all records this yr with a 5% development, while the Philippines will come inside touching distance of its earlier excessive of 2019.

Malaysia is anticipated to see worldwide customer numbers rise by nearly 10% forward of 2019 ranges and is anticipated to break its earlier excessive reached in 2016, by nearly 7% this yr.

WTTC President & CEO, Julia Simpson, stated “Singapore is setting the tempo for world tourism development, breaking records, and outpacing its regional rivals. With hovering customer numbers anticipated from India, and a return of Chinese travellers, the city-state’s tourism engine is operating at full throttle.

“This is not just a comeback – it is a transformation. Singapore is leading in innovation and sustainability, and its Travel & Tourism sector is on course to be stronger than ever, driving jobs, growth, and economic prosperity for years to come.”

A Booming Economic Engine

In 2024, Travel & Tourism was projected to pump $66.1BN into Singapore’s economic system, accounting for 9.8% of GDP, and help a document 570,000 jobs.

By the tip of the last decade, the sector is anticipated to contribute nearly $80BN to the economic system, 19% above its earlier excessive in 2019.

Travel & Tourism can also be forecast to help over 637,000 jobs, marking a rise of over 90,000 extra since 2019.

Singapore’s SAF Leadership

Singapore’s greenhouse gasoline emissions from Travel & Tourism dropped 4.1% per yr between 2019 and 2023, decreasing the sector’s share from 23.5% to 18.4%.

However, regardless of being house to the world’s largest SAF plant, low-carbon vitality at present powers just below 2.5% of the Travel & Tourism sector.

The upcoming SAF mandate would require all departing flights to incorporate 1% SAF from 2026. In distinction, different main tourism economies, such because the United Kingdom and Japan, have set targets of 10% SAF adoption by 2030.

Boosting the Regional Economy

In 2024, the Travel & Tourism sector was anticipated to generate practically $379BN USD for Southeast Asia’s economic system, representing 9.7% of the area’s GDP and supporting roughly 42.5MN jobs.

By 2030, the sector’s financial contribution is projected to attain practically $551BN USD — 48% above 2019. Employment in Travel & Tourism can also be forecast to hit 51.5MN jobs, a rise of over 10MN since 2019.

Southeast Asia’s Environmental Footprint

Southeast Asia’s Travel & Tourism sector noticed an annual decline of seven% per yr between 2019 and 2023, decreasing its contribution from over 10% to just below 7% of the regional complete.

Currently, low-carbon vitality accounts for just below 5.5% of the sector’s energy provide.

WTTC is urging the federal government to convey ahead the mandate to this yr and enhance the minimal utilization goal.