Commentary: When will tourist arrivals in Singapore fully recover?

IS AVISITING SINGAPORE EXPENSIVE?

Tourists in today’s society frequently criticize how costly it is to travel to Singapore. Lately, an American TikTok users lamented that she spent more than US$ 9, 000 on a five-day journey to Singapore, including US$ 1, 200 a day for her resort room. &nbsp,

Her article triggered a storm of criticism from users, who pointed out that there were a lot of cheaper options. Although her blog may have touched a nerve, it still highlights how expensive the city is to be compared to.

Currently, based on data from the Singapore Tourism Board from the first quarter of 2024, a hotel room in Singapore costs on average S$ 280 ( US$ 211 ) per day. In comparison to the same time last year, the typical hotel room rate increased by 32 %.

This has resulted in ownership rates falling from about 85 percent in the first quarter of 2019 to 80 percent in the first quarter of 2024.

With lodging costs climbing, Singapore challenges pricing out budget-conscious visitors. Although the cost of many of the things that visitors usually purchase has increased, there are still some reasonably priced options, including food, transportation, and sights. Thus, rough hotel prices may prove to be the major impediment to completely recovering Singapore’s tourism sector.

In light of the rise in global rivals, Singapore has announced a number of significant purchases this time. By 2027, Singapore may have access to a four-hectare shore healthcare colony near Changi Airport, for instance, and plans are also being made for a bay South Coastal web-site with a Porsche Experience Center.