SINGAPORE: The number of travellers entering and leaving Singapore in 2024 increased by nearly 20 per cent from the previous year, surpassing 2019 pre-COVID levels, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ( ICA ) said on Friday ( Feb 14 ).
ICA cleared more than 230 million visitors in 2024, away from around 192 , million people in 2023 and exceeding the 217.3 million recorded in 2019.
The rise was mostly attributable to the increase in land station crossings, which made up more than 75 % of all traveler traffic.
Over 562, 000 people passed through the Woodlands and Tuas gates in one day, setting a record great for land crossings on December 20, 2024.
In order to improve border security and optimize immigration clearing, ICA introduced a number of new procedures last year. This includes automatic certification for all international visitors and passport-free certification at key checkpoints for Singapore residents.
About 47 million travelers had cleared emigration as of January 31 without presenting their documents.  ,
In a press release, ICA stated that Singapore is possible the first country in the world to have all travelers’ records automatically cleared.  ,
” With the whole roll-out of passport-less certification at Changi Airport, the ordinary certification time for each traveller has been reduced by 60 per share, from 25 hours to 10 hours”, it added.