Singapore skyline
SINGAPORE : Singapore welcomed 3.12 million visitors in the first quarter of this year, up 15.7 per cent compared to the same period last year, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said.
All three months saw record arrivals, with January registering the largest increase. But March remained the top visitor—generating month.
Visitors from Indonesia (577,000), China (412,000), Malaysia (256,000), Australia (222,000), and India (171,000) accounted for about half the total arrivals.
The highest visitor growth, out of the top 15 markets, was from Hong Kong (+42%), followed by the Philippines (+39%) and Thailand (+38%).
The increase in visitor arrivals has benefitted the hotel industry.
Room revenue in the first quarter was estimated at S$478 million, representing an increase of 9.8 per cent compared to the same quarter a year ago.
An average room went for S$226 a night, an almost 14 per cent increase.
Tourism receipts came to about S$4.98 billion, up 35.7 per cent on—year.
The sightseeing and entertainment components provided the biggest windfall. The sector, which includes gaming, saw receipts grow by over three times.
The figures were contained in the STB’s first quarterly tourism sector performance report.
It marks the start of a new format which aggregates the tourism sector’s performance statistics for each quarter and provides a more comprehensive accounting of the industry’s performance.
The second quarter’s report will be released in August.
— CNA/al
