Singapore

Colugo Camp at Mandai Wildlife Reserve is set to open on 8 Aug and will offer a permanent campsite for year-round bookings. The camp features 20 safari-style tents, and the guests can enjoy an all-inclusive stay, which includes meals and explorations in wildlife parks with camp facilitators. The base itineraries comprise a minimum 2D1N stay, and each tent has a capacity of up to 4 people. Camp tickets include admission to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and River Wonders. The prices start at $550 SGD for 2 people, $700 SGD for 3 people, and $800 SGD for 4 people

The Minister of State for Trade and Industry said they need more people, especially those with expertise in sustainability and technology in the MICE industry, to achieve the goal of earning 3X MICE tourism receipts in 2040. Singapore targets an increase in MICE receipts from $1.4 billion SGD in 2019 to $4.5 billion SGD in 2040. Singapore is increasing efforts to attract more MICE tourists, since they are estimated to spend 2X as much as leisure tourists. Singapore is studying to develop a new MICE hub in the downtown area, which will support MICE facilities in the location and will leverage hotels and lifestyle experiences. Singapore secured MICE events for multi-year contracts, such as the Milken Institute Asia Summit (2026-2028), Passenger Terminal Expo Asia (2026), Breakbulk Asia (2026), and InnoTrans Asia in 2027. The Singapore MICE Forum, organised by the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), will be held from 23-25 Jul. The event is expected to welcome 1,500 attendees, and will launch the Singapore MICE Development initiative on 25 Jul. The initiative will help MICE companies to interact with 600 students from 13 higher learning institutions (IHLs) and mid-career professionals. During the forum, 4 agreements were signed between SACEOS, IHLs and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), to improve talents and enhance training standards. STB and SACEOS launched BeInspiredSG, an event incubator to offer mentorship to local event concepts on 24 Jul

The Michelin Guide Singapore announced a total of 42 starred restaurants during a ceremony event held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. European restaurants Les Amis at Shaw Centre, Odette at National Gallery Singapore and Zen at Bukit Pasoh Road ranked in the 3-star category. The executive chef at Les Amis said 40% of its tourist guests are coming to the restaurant because of the guide. Restaurants listed in the 2-star category are Sushi Sakuta, Cloudstreet, Jaan by Kirk Westaway in Swissotel The Stamford Singapore, Meta, Thevar, and One Fullerton’s Saint Pierre and Shokouwa. The remaining 32 restaurants are listed in the 1-star category. Under the Bib Gourmand category, 89 eateries were listed, including 9 new establishments. The Michelin Selected category lists 157 outlets, including 26 new restaurants

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt immersive live concert by CD Projekt Red will be held at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands from 29-30 Nov

The Minister for Sustainability and the Environment said the Singapore Oceanarium will improve Singapore’s tourism industry while contributing to the environmental goals of the country. She added that the oceanarium focuses on marine education, research, and conservation. The oceanarium houses various marine animals and has been accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) signed an MoU with OpenAI to adopt advanced AI across the tourism sector in Singapore. Advanced AI can perform complex tasks and generate human-like responses by using machine learning capabilities. STB Chief Technology Officer said, they are looking to leverage OpenAI’s capabilities “in addressing productivity challenges and accelerating digital transformation across the sector”. Under the MoU, STB will adopt OpenAI to explore the potential to use advanced tools and robotics in the tourism sector. STB will also use OpenAI to improve visitor experiences through greater personalisation, as well as improve organisational and industry productivity. AI can be used in hotels and attractions to provide tailored recommendations and multilingual assistance

Singapore recorded 0.6% core inflation in Jun, based on the data from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). The headline inflation was 0.8% on a YoY basis in Jun. MAS and MTI said lower accommodation inflation helped to offset the higher transport inflation

Henley Passport Index shows Singapore still ranked as the most powerful passport in the world with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally. However, this is a slight drop from 195 destinations in Jan, following Mauritania and Pakistan switching from a visa-on-arrival to an e-visa system. E-visa requires pre-departure approvals and is not counted as visa-free access in the index

Units in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) are responding to a cyber attack by an alleged China-linked group called UNC3886 on Singapore’s critical infrastructure. The MINDEF Minister said the units will work with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA). The Chinese Embassy in Singapore denied the claim and said that, “China is firmly against and cracks down (on) all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with law”

The Michelin Guide Singapore announced 89 eateries made the 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand Selection list. The Bib Gourmand highlights food establishments for their value-for-money gourmet experiences and will be judged anonymously by Michelin Guide inspectors. 11 out of the 89 establishments are new, including 5 hawkers centre stalls, 3 restaurants, and 1 street food establishment

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) gave approval to WeRide, an autonomous vehicle (AV) company, to operate a self-driving shuttle bus service in Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) without any safety personnel on board. This is the first time in Southeast Asia that AVs have been approved to operate without an onboard safety officer. The AVs have been operating in a fixed 12-minute route within the RWS resort since Jun 2024. The Chief Financial Officer of WeRide said this approval shows that “our vehicles are safe, reliable, and ready to transform public transportation at scale”. WeRide has established a dedicated research and development centre in Singapore, and they have been trialling self-driving road sweepers in Jurong Lake Gardens since Mar. The self-driving shuttles will be deployed in Punggol from Q4 2025 as part of plans to increase driverless vehicle deployments in the next 5 years

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) organised roadshows in a new format in India on 15 Jul. This event brought more than 60 Singapore tourism partners. The event was held in New Delhi, and will visit Kochi on 17 Jul. The roadshow will feature a dedicated Experience Zone, where attractions, cruise operators, and the Changi Airport Group will be showcased in an interactive format. Sentosa will highlight its offerings in an “island within the zone” immersive space, showcasing Sentosa Development Corporation, Mount Faber Leisure Group, Skyline Luge Sentosa, Sentosa 4D Adventureland, Mega Adventure, Madame Tussauds Singapore and Resorts World Sentosa. STB will introduce the “Singapore DMC Trade Partner Fam Support Scheme” on 1 Aug to help Indian travel agents transform and sell Singapore’s offerings. This program will support Singapore-based Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in hosting customised fam trips for Indian travel agent. Singapore records significant MICE traffic from India in H1 2025. The upcoming events are Sun Pharma’s 6,100-delegate event and CREDAI Natcon Convention’s first Singapore edition event with 1,000 delegates. STB India’s “Just Between Us Friends” campaign will be expanded to the MICE sector, offering exclusive privileges for new Indian incentive groups travelling from 1 Aug 2025 to 31 Mar 2026. The program will benefit 9 Sentosa Island partners and offer better air travel benefits through IndiGo and Singapore Airlines

Singapore welcomed 1.25 million visitors in Jun 2025, bringing the total visitors in H1 2025 to 8.33 million, +1.9% YoY and 89.4% of pre-pandemic levels. In Jun, overnight visitors were 924,230 accounting for 74% of total visitors. The top source markets in Jun were: Indonesia (205,550); China (197,180); India (112,720); Malaysia (100,980), and Australia (90,890). The average stay length for international visitor segments was 3.7 days. Indian visitors stayed 7.16 days on average and Chinese tourists recorded 3.67 days. The top 3 markets in H1 2025 were China (1.48 million); Indonesia (1.28 million); and India (647,240)

Singapore’s Q1 2025 tourism receipts dropped 0.1% YoY to $8.07 billion SGD but 7.4% QoQ, whilst international visitor arrivals in Q1 2025 drew 0.1% You to 4.3 million. Spend on F&B increased 14.1% YoY to $1.3 billion SGD, and accommodation was +6.5% YoY to $1.4 billion SGD and “other components” was +4.1% YoY to $2.5 billion SGD. Shopping declined -2.5% YoY to $1.3 billion SGD, and sightseeing, entertainment and gaming (SEG) dropped -16% YoY. It noted that Q1 2024 had included the Singapore Airshow 2024 and Taylor Swift’s concerts. China was the top revenue source at $1.3 billion SGD, excluding SEG, +9.3% YoY. Indonesia generated $719.8 million SGD, Australia $538 million SGD, the US $474.6 million SGD and India $342.9 million SGD

The 16th Singapore Night Festival (SNF) will be held from 22 Aug-6 Sep. The event will transform the Bras Basah Bugis (BBB) district into a vibrant celebration of light, art, and culture. The event is organised by HeritageSG

Las Vegas Sands will develop a new 8 billion USD luxury hotel tower with 570 rooms, a casino, a 15,000-seat entertainment arena, 200,000 sq ft of meeting and convention space, and a few high-end restaurants next to Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) Hotel Tower 1. Singapore Prime Minister, who attended the event, called Marina Bay a symbol of the Singapore Story, a thriving financial and business hub, and a MICE destination connecting Singapore to the global economy. He said Marina Bay plan is part of Singapore’s ambitious transformation of its southern waterfront. A 30km coastline from Gardens by the Bay East to Pasir Panjang, which is 6X the size of Marina Bay, will have more commercial, recreational, and entertainment options, alongside new public housing. The project is set to be completed by 2030 and will open in Q1 2031

Singapore’s economy recorded 4.3% growth in Q2 2025, faster than the 4.1% growth recorded in Q1 2025, based on early estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). The ministry warned of "significant uncertainty and downside risks" in the global economy in H2 2025 due to a lack of clarity from the US on its tariff policies. Singapore’s GDP expanded by 1.4% on a QoQ seasonally-adjusted basis in Q2 2025 vs 0.5% contraction in Q1 2025. The GDP growth for H1 2025 averaged at 4.2% YoY, but uncertainty remains for the rest of the year due to US tariffs. The services sectors, the wholesale and retail trade, and transportation and storage sectors recorded 4.8% growth in Q2 2025, vs 4.6% in Q1 2025. The accommodation and food services, real estate, administrative and support services and other services recorded 3.4% growth in Q2 2025 vs 2.3% in Q1 2025. Growth in the accommodation sector was supported by a YoY increase in international visitor arrivals

The Luxury Group by Marriott International surveyed 1,750 luxury travellers or the high-net-worth (HNW) travellers from Australia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. The Intentional Traveller report found HNW travellers in the Asia Pacific region prioritising well-being, immersive experiences, emotional value, and intentional design over volume and extravagance. 93% travellers want a personalised travel experience in 2025, vs 83% in 2024 62% said they plan every detail of their trip in advance, vs 53% in 2024 Booking for long trips is made 2-3 months before the trip, while for short trips, the bookings are made 1-2 months in advance. 73% of solo travellers are making bookings in advance Travellers' trust in official and trusted sources like hotel websites and personal recommendations dropped to 26% vs 34% YoY. 20% of travellers are using AI to help plan their luxury travel plans Travel recorded YoY decline with fewer trips and shorter international stays. On average, the travellers are planning 6 domestic and 4 international leisure trips in the coming 12 months, 2 international trips fewer compared to 2024 The length of domestic trips has increased from three to four nights, while long international stays have fallen from 2.5 weeks in 2024 to 1.5 weeks in 2025 The popular destinations are beach holidays (37%), cruises (+11pp YoY), wellness and spa (26%), travel for religious events (17%), and safari (30%) The top domestic holidays are for medical tourism, religious events, and educational travel Gen Z travellers prefer seamless tech integration, sustainability, experiential depth, and authenticity in their travel plans. They are motivated by more meaningful travel, 47% prefer being close to nature, 45% want to see wildlife, and 43% are attracted to active sporting holidays 31% prefer solo travelling, with small group trips under 5 people a preferred format 86% of respondents said they research for business and investment opportunities while travelling, vs 69% in 2024. This trend is strong in Southeast Asia 90% said wellness offerings are an important factor while booking, vs 80% in 2024. 76% said they likely will book a treatment during their stay 28% are planning for luxury travel, such as vineyard retreats to remote safaris, and nature-driven travel, up from 19% in 2024 30% of respondents are planning a wildlife-focused adventure. 21%-22% prefer exploring nature with immediate family Australia, Japan, China, and Singapore are preferred destinations for their natural beauty, safety, and refined hospitality Those who prioritise nature and wildlife prefer destinations that offer vegetarian or vegan menus (49%), healthy food options (48%), and eco-conscious practices (47%) 72% planning to spend more on travel in the next 12 months, with the strongest intention in Australia (85%), Indonesia (81%), and Singapore (80%) 72% want to take a measured approach in spending when travelling to India, and 45% of respondents plan to spend the same or less 93% of high-net worth travellers in Asia Pacific prefer to visit their favourite destinations, and 89% likely revisit destinations they feel a sense of connection

Trip.com’s report shows sport tourism has contributed to an increase in inbound bookings for Jul and Aug. The report shows that inbound bookings recorded +31% YoY during the World Aquatics Championships 2025 from 11 Jul-3 Aug, while the Singapore Festival of Football 2025 recorded +50% YoY. The report shows millennials formed 53% of sports travellers, followed by Generation X and Generation Z. Among the top source markets, the biggest YoY growth in bookings are from Indonesia (36%), China (24%), Thailand (16%), Malaysia (14%), and Hong Kong (11%). 46% of the travellers prefer 4-star accommodation, 31% prefer 3-star, and 23% booked 5-star accommodation

Since the soft opening of The Standard, Singapore in late 2024, the hotel has received various corporate events focusing on lifestyle elements, such as whiskey tasting, in their program. The hotel can accommodate over 200 guests in its public spaces and 143 guestrooms

S&P Global’s report shows gross gaming revenue (GGR) is expected to approach or even surpass pre-pandemic levels in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. A S&P Global analyst said Chinese arrivals to Malaysia and Singapore have reached pre-pandemic levels and helped with the recovery of GGR. Data shows GGR in Q1 2024 for Singapore recorded +50% YoY following the introduction of visa-free travel for Chinese visitors. S&P Global said Genting’s plan to set up a casino in the US, within New York, could be an “event risk” affecting the group’s overall revenues. She added that Cambodia is expected to have a slower GGR recovery following China’s crackdown on Chinese junkets – all-inclusive trips for VIP players – which accounted for about 70% of GGR for Cambodia in 2019

The 32nd Singapore Food Festival (SFF) will be held from 4-24 Sep with the theme “Have You Eaten Yet?”. The event will feature over 15 events, including 3 Signature Events, 3 Pop-up Events, 7 Unique Events, SG60 Specials, and online activities. Mise en Place at Dempsey Hill will be the central hub for the event. Chinatown Complex Food Centre will be the festival’s Heritage Hawker Partner, and the 226 stalls located in the centre will host events during SFF

Titanic: An Immersive Voyage – Through the Eyes of the Passengers will debut in Fever Exhibition Hall at 25 Scotts Road, Singapore from 6 Aug. This exhibition will utilise VR technology to showcase Titanic’s story

Luxury spending in Singapore is expected to record $13.9 billion SGD in 2025, +7% YoY, outpacing Japan, China, and South Korea, based on Euromonitor International’s data. In 2025, the inbound luxury spending is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels of $14.7 billion SGD

Maybank’s economist said Lady Gaga’s concert is estimated to contribute $100-$150 million SGD in tourism receipts for Singapore. However, this is lower than the contribution from Taylor Swift and Coldplay’s concerts in 2024, amounting to $350-$500 million SGD. Billboard’s statistics show Lady Gaga’s concert recorded 193,000 ticket sales, grossing $52 million SGD

Shatec, a hospitality training institution, is closing down. The institute has gradually stopped its operation since Apr 2025, and the courses are expected to be discontinued by Q1 2026. They are no longer accepting new students. Shatec’s campus in Bukit Batok was put up for sale in May 2025 for $18 million SGD, and its Orchard campus also closed at the end of Jun 2025. Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) Executive Director said they are aware of Shatec’s plan. She pointed out that there are various established training providers, including Continuing Education Training Centres such as Republic Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic; and Workforce Skills Qualifications-accredited training organisations such as NTUC LearningHub and TMC Academy are supporting the tourism sector in Singapore. Shatec was founded in 1983 by the Singapore Hotel Association and has graduated around 40,000 individuals

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) launched WEAVE, its new sustainable lifestyle hub focusing on sustainability and biophilic design. WEAVE integrates greenery throughout the building with cascading plants, sustainable roofing, natural ventilation, and materials showing the geology of Sentosa Island. This incentive will support RWS’s target of becoming a carbon-neutral destination by 2030. ETFE roofing will help to cut heat gain by up to 80%, reducing energy use for lighting and cooling. RWS is promoting WEAVE as a marketplace for local and international brands, and it will host Singapore-exclusive outlets such as Coach’s new concept store, a Vilebrequin flagship, a customised adidas outlet, MENSHO X ramen by chef Tomoharu Shono, and Din Tai Fung’s first cocktail bar in Asia. Local brands such as Old Seng Choong, Standard Bread bakery, and Tivoli Coffee House will open in WEAVE as well

Zalopay has partnered with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to improve the travel experience for Vietnamese tourists in Singapore. Zalopay users can make payments directly in Singapore through STB’s partner network. The app will display exchange rates and transaction fees. Users can get local deals and exclusive benefits designed for Vietnamese tourists

Messe Berlin will launch InnoTrans Asia, the first Asian edition of the transport technology trade fair, at the Singapore Expo from 7-9 Sep. This trade fair will be held following the signing of an MoU with the Singapore Tourism Board. This event will complement the biennial InnoTrans Berlin. This trade fair will showcase Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction. This event will bring together stakeholders from public and private transport companies, manufacturers and suppliers, construction companies, government bodies, trade associations, and research institutions

Visa Business and Economic Insights presented a market intelligence update on the luxury tourism industry during the opening forum for ILTM Asia Pacific 2025. Visa highlights opportunities for luxury tourism with the increasingly affluent population in Asia Pacific and emerging source markets, along with wellness as an important travel motivator. The study found 48% of the world’s new affluent will be in the Asia Pacific region, with $2.14 trillion across 10 key markets in the region. However, the principal Asia Pacific economist at Visa Business and Economic Insights said growth in Asia is getting tougher due to China’s slowdown, higher interest rates, and geopolitics. He added that there was huge growth observed in the Philippines and India. The study finds travellers from the Philippines and India spend $1,000 USD per trip, Chinese and Australian tourists spend $3,000 USD

4 companies and 2 individuals were charged for allegedly providing illegal short-term accommodation stays. Those charged in the incident are the Director of MR Singapore, Metro Relocations, and Cleaning Centre, and the former CEO of ST Hospitality. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said that the accused reportedly offered unauthorised short-term stays at 170 units within 50 private residential developments in Singapore. They were charged with a total of 340 counts of providing illegal short-term accommodation, with each charge carrying a maximum fine of $200,000 SGD