Singapore

HarbourFront Centre will be closed in H2 2026 to pave the way for the redevelopment of a 33-storey building with office and retail spaces. The redevelopment will not include the ferry and cruise terminal, which will be located next to the new development. The Singapore Cruise Centre said the two-storey cruise and ferry terminal will operate at a new location next to the existing HarbourFront Centre in H2 2026

The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) fined Marina Bay Sands (MBS) $315,000 SGD for a data breach in Oct 2023, which leaked personal information of 665,495 MBS customers

The Prime Minister announced that the talks with the US on semiconductor tariffs are at an early stage and more clarity is needed on how the US will apply the tariffs, for example, in the pharmaceutical sector

A fire involving a plastic mat, likely due to welding works, was reported on the 55th floor of Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Hotel Tower 3 on 28 Oct, and it was extinguished by the staff before the arrival of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). No injuries were reported, and the business operations were not impacted

A new hotel called the Ridge will open on the Kent Ridge campus, the National University of Singapore (NUS), in H1 2026. The hotel with 185 rooms will be available only for the students, visiting academics, and professionals, and will not open to the public or tourists

Resorts World Sentosa has reintroduced an overnight experience in the Oceanarium called Ocean Dreams on selected weekends between Nov and Dec 2025. Visitors can enjoy glamping tents set against the Open Ocean Zone to offer an immersive experience with marine life. Visitors can learn marine conservation and ocean science during the visit

Singapore and China signed and renewed agreements to increase cooperation in several areas, including green development, digital economy, maritime connectivity, and information technology. These MoUs were signed during the Chinese Premier’s visit to Singapore

Sarawak Mega Fair 2025 was held at Suntec Singapore, from 16-19 Oct, highlighting Sarawak’s culture, eco-tourism, and investment potential. The event was organised by the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS), Sarawak Government, and the Tourism Ministry of Sarawak

IHG Hotels & Resorts’ (IHG) Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay becomes its first hotel in Asia to join IHG’s Low Carbon Pioneer hotel program. The hotel has been accredited with GSTC certification and won the 2025 Singapore Hotel Sustainability Award, presented by the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA). Singapore's National Water Agency PUB recognised the hotel with a Water Efficient Building Certification for its sustainability efforts. IHG said the Hotel Indigo Changi Airport, which will open in 2028, aims to receive a “zero-energy” certificate from the Green Mark Scheme of the Singapore Building and Construction Authority (BCA)

Singapore’s core inflation increased to 0.4% YoY in Sep vs 0.3% in Aug. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said this was due to an increase in the retail prices and other goods. Overall inflation reached 0.7% YoY vs 0.5% in Aug, due to an increase in private transport costs. Inflation for accommodation remains at 0.4%

Singapore will take steps for a practical and collaborative approach to govern agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Minister for Digital Development and Information said that new policies are required for agentic AI and quantum computing. She announced three new initiatives: an update to the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) guidelines to secure AI systems, an agreement with technology companies to share AI-driven intelligence on cyber threats, and the launch of quantum readiness and safety documents for public consultation

A new nature park is planned in Bukit Timah Turf City covering 40ha to protect the pangolin and a critically endangered songbird species. The park will be formed by connecting Bukit Tinggi and Eng Neo Avenue Forest via a 400m-long green corridor to allow wildlife to move freely. This park will be the 9th nature park bordering the Central Catchment and Bukit Timah nature reserves. The park will also serve as a buffer to protect the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) from urban development. An environmental impact study by Aecom from 2021-2024 for the planned housing estate, Bukit Timah Turf City, found that the area is home to 25 fauna species and 177 plant species with conservation significance. 80% of the park will be conserved for green spaces, and the remaining will be trails, boardwalks, and nature play features. A feasibility study for the park area will be carried out by the National Parks Board (NParks). 15,000 to 20,000 private and public homes will be constructed in Turf City in 20-30 years, and a new MRT station will be built in this area under the Cross Island Line

Acting Transport Minister announces that six stations on the North East Line (NEL) and the Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) will offer free rides from 27 Dec, before 7.30am or between 9.00am and 9.45am on weekdays. This is part of the effort to reduce train congestion in the morning rush hour. Stations involved in NEL are Punggol Coast, Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok, Hougang or Kovan, or any SPLRT station

The first Singapore Hospitality and Tourism Conference (SHTC) took place at Marina Bay Sands, in conjunction with ITB Asia. A careers fair was offering 700 jobs across 20 tourism companies. Between June 2023-June 2025, the tourism workforce in Singapore grew by 8% from 69,000 to 75,000. In Q2 2025, there were 5,000 job postings and 6,700 vacancies. 1,500 new hotel rooms are expected to open in 2026

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), in partnership with Universal Pictures, DBS Bank, and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), will organise “Wicked: For Good” film-based installations and themed activities across the island from 10 Nov 2025 to 4 Jan 2026, including at Sensoryscape and Universal Studios Singapore

Only one out of 7 lanes at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI) at the Malaysia-Singapore border installed with the National Integrated Immigration System (MyNIISe) was functioning on 15 Oct, while 2 out of 8 motorcycle lanes’ MyNIISe app were working at the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ (KSAB). The system installed at the bus halls at both BSI and KSAB was working without any problems. MyNIISe was installed in 16 car lanes at BSI and 12 car lanes at KSAB

Messe Berlin signed agreements with the Singapore Tourism Board and TripAdvisor on 15 Oct, with ITB Asia 2026 seeing more of an emphasis on high-growth segments and feature zones focused on experiential travel, wellness tourism, luxury and lifestyle, sustainable and regenerative tourism. In 2026, the Experience Pavilion will take place in partnership with TripAdvisor. Messe Berlin and Singapore Tourism Board will develop new content pillars for 2026

Visa has released more data around the F1 Singapore Race Night: The number of international travellers into Singapore grew by 20% vs a usual week, with a 30% boost in spend Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia saw 50% more travellers visiting Singapore during the week of the race, and spent 50% more than usual Australia saw an 40% increase in travellers and 90% boost in spend The US saw a 10% increase in travellers and 40% boost in spend The UK saw a 30% increase in travellers and 80% boost in spend High net worth travellers made up one-third of tourists into Singapore, +70% vs an average week, and a 70% increase in their spend Local SMEs saw business up 10%, and over 50% for traveller spend

Senior Minister of State for Transport of Singapore said they are in talks with Malaysia to allow cross-border taxis to drop off passengers at their preferred locations in Johor Bahru, and vice versa, rather than at designated points. She added the ministry has recognised demand for cross-border point-to-point services, which will provide convenience for the passengers. But she added that, foreign taxis would be allowed to pick up passengers only at designated points to avoid affecting local operators. She said the more pick-up points will be created in Johor Bahru and Singapore for the convenience of the people

Singapore recorded 2.9% of economic growth in Q3 2025, slower than the 4.5% revised growth in Q2 2025, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). Accommodation and food services, real estate, administrative and support services and other services sectors recorded 4.1% growth in Q3 2025 vs 4% in Q2 2025. The accommodation sector expanded due to an increase in international tourist arrivals

The Immigration Checkpoints Authority (ICA) warned travellers of long queues at land checkpoints between Singapore and Johor Bahru from 17-20 Oct, in conjunction with the Deepavali holiday. ICA said there will be stricter checks against e-vaporisers. During the school holidays on 5-15 Sep, over 5.8 million travellers crossed the land borders, including 575,000 travellers on 5 Sep

Luxury hotels are looking for a strong finish in Q4 2025 with MICE activities planned, such as the Formula 1 night race, the Milken Institute’s Asia Summit, cryptocurrency symposium Token2049, and travel trade show ITB Asia. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) data shows, luxury hotel occupancy has increased to around 88% since Jul 2025. In Q2 2025, Singapore reported a 76.4% occupancy rate. Cushman & Wakefield’s head of research for Singapore said the country will complete 1,325 hotel rooms in 2025, below the 10-year average of 1,645 rooms. He added that the F1 Night race and high-profile concert events will boost the tourism sector in H2 2025. The luxury segment’s average room rate was at $642.12 SGD in Jul and Aug UOL’s hotels recorded $291 SGD of revenue per available room (RevPAR), a drop from $298 SGD in 2024, but the occupancy rate increased to 77% from 76%. UOL manages 49 hotels, with 14,900 rooms, including Pan Pacific Orchard, Pan Pacific Singapore, and Mandarin Oriental OUE Real Estate Investment Trust reported a 12.9% YoY drop in hospitality segment revenue. Hilton Singapore Orchard, one of its two hospitality properties, recorded $230 SGD RevPAR in H1, -21% YoY CDL Hospitality Trusts recorded $165 SGD RevPAR for its Singapore hotels, -14.2% YoY in H1 2025. It owns Orchard Hotel Singapore, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, and W Singapore – Sentosa Cove

Skyscanner released its 2026 Travel Trends report, surveying 1,000 Singapore travellers. The survey found, In 2026, travel will become more personal, focused on human connection and relationships 65% of Singaporean travellers have travelled or have considered travelling abroad to meet new people. 66% of Gen Z, 70% of millennials, and 36% of boomers have done so or are considering this 4 out of 10 respondents are planning a family trip for their next holiday. 25% of Gen Z have travelled with their family. 43% said travelling with family is one of the few times they can fully connect with them, and 43% said it shows appreciation towards the elders 71% of Gen Z and millennials are inspired to travel by books or literary content 49% of travellers buy local beauty products which are not available in their home country, and 39% visit specialist beauty stores like French pharmacies or Korean shops 81% plan or consider a summer or autumn trip to the mountains 60% choose a destination based on the accommodation property 60% see local supermarkets as a way to understand local culture, with many buying snacks and limited-edition products as souvenirs. Singapore respondents prioritise value for their upcoming trip. 85% plan to spend the same or more on flights, 80% on accommodation, 47% on car hire, and 71% say flight costs are important to determine their destination

Trip.com Group and Google published the “Why Travel?” report to study the intersection of purpose, people, and place in travel. The study found; In Thailand, Indonesia, and India, 75% of travellers watch travel-related livestreams. Over 40% and up to 76% viewers in some markets say they are likely to book trips directly through the links in livestreams Google searches for “Japanese tea ceremonies” recorded a 53% YoY increase Tourists are combining wellness trips with physical challenges. Searches for “golf & spa resorts” recorded a +300% YoY, and “ski & spa” packages +250% YoY Travellers are influenced by friends, families, and fan communities, and concerts and sports are driving travel. Two-thirds of the respondents are willing to travel for concerts, while endurance tourism, such as running, cycling, and Hyrox competitors, is recording a 5X increase AI is becoming an important tool to plan trips. Searches for “Help planning my trip” recorded +190% YoY Google LCS Specialists team Managing Director for Greater China region said “AI is an essential tool also for the industry, enabling partners like Trip.com Group to capture the immense opportunities that lie ahead in 2026 and beyond”

ArCH Square, a new archaeology and intangible cultural heritage centre by HeritageSG, a subsidiary of the National Heritage Board (NHB), is set to open to the public in Nov. The centre will give access to the public to view Singapore’s archaeology collections

A research by the NTU Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health shows that storms in the Southeast Asia region have become stronger, of which air pollution from forest fires is one of the reported reasons. The centre analysed weather and satellite data of the last 10 years across Southeast Asia. The data shows the storms are becoming more frequent and intense in Southeast Asia. They also found that the size and concentration of raindrops in polluted areas were 1.8X larger compared to those in areas with clean air. The sources of pollution are biomass burning, emissions from vehicles, and household fuel combustion. Polluted storms increase rainfall by up to 50%

7 Singaporean hotels have received Michelin Keys. Globally, 2,400 hotels have been awarded the first global Michelin Keys selection. The selection took 5 criteria into consideration, such as architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and its significant contribution to the neighbourhood. The hotels are; Raffles Hotel Singapore, receiving Three Keys Artyzen Singapore, Capella Singapore, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Parkroyal Collection Pickering Singapore, Raffles Sentosa Singapore, receiving One Key

An Amadeus study, “Connected Journeys: How Technology Will Transform Travel in the Next Decade,” found that Singaporean travellers are adopting digital technology at a fast pace, with the use of biometric gateways, mobile platforms and integrated applications to manage their trips 79% of Singaporeans show willingness to adopt biometric gateways for check-in, boarding, and immigration, vs 69% of the global average. 36% said they would use biometric security to reduce queue time, 33% interested in receiving real-time traffic and arrivals updates, and 62% preferred to checking in luggage from home. 32% of Singaporeans prefer a single app to manage all travel details such as flights, accommodation, and transport. 34% of business travellers prefer a single app, and 32% of them said smart luggage tracking is a priority for them 20% are using Generative AI for travel planning in 2025 vs 11% in 2024. 92% reported that using AI gives them benefits like time savings (43%), easier itinerary generation (37%), and discovering destinations (35%). 83% of business travellers said an AI trip assistant would be useful for them 91% of air Travellers reported they have anxiety during trips, and 76% would rebook with the provider who manages the travel disruption effectively 33% prioritised quick rebooking, and 29% prefer an application which allows self-management 30% of the respondents still want to speak with a person, and 50% would wait for human assistance for a much longer time, even if an AI chatbot is available For business travellers, 71% prefer dedicated communication channels, and 76% want proactive outreach during disruptions The respondents face issues with Generative AI. 61% reported difficulties such as too many options (28%), inaccurate information (26%), and the need to verify recommendations (24%)

Singapore has recognised 42 local businesses as heritage businesses under the SG Heritage Business Scheme, which will offer marketing and other support to them to increase their visibility and sustain their business legacy. The businesses can display a heritage mark in front of their shop and will be included on the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) heritage portal

National Gallery Singapore will host various events in Nov, in conjunction with its 10th anniversary. The gallery will offer celebrity-guided tours, free exhibitions, and more from 15-16 Nov

The Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) launched the Cooling Sentosa Roadmap to reduce the heat on the island. SDC will implement 10 cool zones and nodes by 2030 to lower the temperatures by at least 4 degrees Celsius. Under the roadmap, SDC will incorporate shades, fans, and hydration points on the island. A report shows Singapore’s daily maximum temperatures will exceed 35 degrees Celsius by 2100. Currently, Singapore experiences peak temperatures from May-Jul. SDC will introduce soil-less green roofs over covered walkways to lower temperatures by Q1 2026. SDC commissioned Atelier Ten, a global environmental design consultant, to conduct an outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) conditions study in Sentosa. A Director from Atelier Ten (Asia) said thermal comfort can be measured using the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) metric. More than half of the 500ha Sentosa island is covered with greenery, and the areas closer to greenery, such as Mount Imbiah and Mount Serapong, record PET of 34 and 34 degrees Celsius. Palawan Beach recorded a PET of 49 degrees Celsius, and the highest PET of 56 degrees Celsius was recorded at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) Plaza due to materials with high absorption of the heat

Singapore and Malaysian operators are still offering cross-border transport services despite the clampdown by the authorities against the illegal services. Singapore-based companies offering the services claim they are still offering the service due to demand and contractual obligation. HDB, a Singapore Government Agency, called for a tender for cross-border chauffeur services in May. HDB’s spokesperson said the vendor must comply with all requirements. LTA advised to use licensed providers under the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme and coaches. LTA added that their employees use either public transport or their personal vehicles when they travel to Malaysia for work. Johor Transport EXCO said they submitted a proposal to the Malaysian Transport Ministry for 5 more pickup and drop-off points for cross-border passenger transport service vehicles, and to some vehicles to offer door-to-door services in Johor Bahru

Yacht charter companies have reported an increase of 20-50% in bookings over the F1 season, mostly booked before or after the 3-5 Oct race days for both corporate and personal bookings. Yacht berth bookings have also increased for yachts sailing in from Thailand and Indonesia. Some luxury yacht charters are also offering sailings in the Marina Bay waters during the F1, something that could cost upwards of $25,000 SGD plus $5,000-8,000 SGD/ day to stay in the area. The Token2049 cryptocurrency conference taking place from 1-2 Oct is also an influence on the bookings, Zenith Yacht Charters noted

STR reported that as of mid-September, hotel occupancy for the Singapore F1 race week was higher than in 2024, with occupancy above 80%, vs 2024’s 70% at 17 days out from the race. They forecast to see a "slight increase" in rates vs 2024. Hotels near the tracks have seen a strong performance, with Hilton reporting a “clear uplift”, Wyndham Hotel Singapore seeing revenue +15% YoY, and nearing full capacity 30 days out, Pan Pacific Hotels Group reported that their hotels were outperforming 2024, whilst the Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford reported that hospitality suite bookings were up +5% YoY, whilst corporate client bookings increased

ComfortDelGro will introduce a new service which allows bookings through QR code by the end of 2025. This feature targets elderly customers who can’t navigate an app or digital interface. The QR will contain their pickup location, and it will be automatically filled in when they scan. Taxi services have dropped from 29,000 in 2014 to 12,000 in 2025 due to ride-hailing platforms like Grab and Gojek

Singapore is set to complete Circle Line MRT loop in H1 2026 with the opening on Keppel, Cantonment, and Prince Edward Road MRT stations

The FIA will place a “heat hazard” regulation for the first time at the Singapore Grand Prix Formula 1 race. The perceived temperatures could hit up to 50 degrees Celsius in the cockpit. FIA predicts that the Heat Index could reach over 31 degrees Celsius at some point during the race. This regulation, which was introduced after the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, saw drivers' exhaustion from the heat. The drivers have to wear a cooling vest to maintain body temperature, or add extra ballast to their car

Singapore Airlines’ Time to Fly virtual fair contributes a large part of the revenue for the company. The virtual travel fair will be held in the Philippines from 10-25 Oct, in collaboration with Mastercard. The collaboration allows SIA ticket buyers to get vouchers and accommodation in Singapore