Results from Singapore Tourism Board show a resilient recovery through 2023 with the city attracting business events including debut congresses and exhibitions
CONFERENCE and other business event travel to Singapore regained momentum in 2023 with a strong recovery in tourism, new hotels and several congresses and exhibitions debuting.
International visitor arrivals reached 13.6 million in 2023 ( about 71 per cent of 2019 arrivals) to meet Singapore Tourism Board (STB)’s forecast of between 12 million and 14m visitors. Tourism receipts are estimated to have reached S$24.5 to $26 billion roughly 88-94 per cent of 2019 figures ), surpassing STB’s forecast of S$18 to $21bn set out in 2023.
Visitors also spent more time in Singapore compared to before the pandemic, according to STB. The average length of stay in 2023 was approximately 3.8 days, compared to 3.4 days for the same period in 2019.
STB secured several big business events that took place in Singapore for the first time in 2023. These included SILMO Singapore, transport logistic Southeast Asia, Bar Convent Singapore, the 25th World Congress of Dermatology 2023, Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Global Conference 2023, and the International Trademark Association (INTA) 2023 Annual Meeting Live+.
Sports and leisure events such as the Capcom Pro Tour 2023 Offline Premier Singapore,Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) Asian Open and WB100 Celebrating Every Story (Warner Bros) also debuted in Singapore.
STB reported that hotel sector performance was driven by stronger demand for leisure and business travel with the addition of 2,210 new guest rooms run 2023.
New properties included Pan Pacific Orchard, Mondrian Singapore Duxton, Artyzen Singapore, and The Singapore Edition.
Singapore’s position as a regional cruise hub strengthened in 2023 with a record 2 million passenger throughput from more than 340 ship calls since the opening of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore.
Lush views at Pan Pacific Singapore
SUSTAINABILITY: THE GREEN PLAN 2030
Singapore was certified as a sustainable destination based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Destination Criteria, after being the first to apply the certification process on a country level, and came second in Asia Pacific and 17th globally in the 2023 Global Destination Sustainability Index.
STB, together with the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (Saceos) and the Association of Singapore Attractions, are working in partnership with GSTC to develop new GSTC Criteria for MICE and Attractions respectively, which aim to serve as the global sustainability standards for both industries.
STB has worked with local industry associations to develop industry-specific roadmaps in the hotels and MICE sector, providing clear directions towards sustainability outcomes, such as achieving internationally recognised industry-specific certification. STB said it would continue to bring together Singapore’s tourism stakeholders to drive sustainable tourism as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
