Singapore

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has processed the 407 slot granted to Singaporeans for the Hajj pilgrimage in 2022, with all pilgrims already registered with Muis-appointed travel agencies and have made payments for their Hajj packages. The council is now working to have the Hajj visa issued by Saudi Arabia

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Singaporeans to defer all non-essential travel to Sri Lanka amid violent protests on economic crisis

Expedia said that air ticket prices are “generally higher” compared to pre-pandemic levels, with the average price for Singaporeans’ top 5 destinations (Bangkok, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket and Seoul) increasing 20% from 2019. Traveloka has also seen “an even uptick across the board”, with its top 3 destinations (Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam) seeing an increase in bookings despite the average 20% increase in airfare. Tourism stakeholders noted that the surge in travel demand following border reopenings, seasonal factors, and soaring prices and airspace ban due to the Russia-Ukraine war to be the main causes of the air ticket price hike. Expedia noted that prices should “come off their highs” once airlines increase their capacity. It added that flight ticket prices from Singapore to other Asian countries have dropped by nearly 30% over the past 2 quarters as regional low-cost carriers started ramping up operations. It also said that average airfare to destinations like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur “have been steady” on an MoM basis and is now “similar” to pre-pandemic levels

CWT Meetings & Events survey has shown that: • Over 90% of respondents expressed willingness to travel, with interests in mid-haul and long haul flights. Group sizes range from 50 to 2,000 and the firm noted that clients are not holding back on group size as they have a stronger sense of security • Exclusive arrangements have become a trend, such as hotel buyouts, hiring out business class across a few flights, and private use of a restaurant or tour • Many clients plan events that stretch to the weekend to enable pre and post extensions • Barcelona and Dubai are popular destinations for Singaporean clients, while clients in Australia and New Zealand favour Asia-Pacific destinations, with Fiji, New Zealand and Thailand topping the list

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has increased the estimated processing time for passport renewals to 6 weeks from 4 weeks in early Apr due to an “overwhelming” amount of applicants. The ICA reported that the number of passport applications has surged to over 7,000 per day since the easing of travel restrictions in Singapore, even going as high as 14,000 applications in a day at its peak. It stated that it "understands that many Singaporeans are eager to start travelling again, especially during the coming June school holidays". The ICA received around 2,000 applications daily pre-pandemic. The number of applications in Mar was also “unprecedented” due to the “pent-up demand of 1 million expired and expiring passports”

Singapore and Indonesia to step up efforts on increasing the number of tourists to both countries. Indonesia’s Tourism Minister said that tourism cooperation is strong between both countries, apparent in the high number of Singaporean visitors for Batam and Bintan in the Riau Islands. Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister believes tourism relations can be improved and hopes there will be more flights, ferries, and other transportation, as well as the “simplification of the process for tourism” between the two countries. Riau Islands Governor hopes the daily quota for foreign tourists could be increased from 300 people per week to 3,000 per week

491,400 travellers departed Singapore while 462,400 arrived in Singapore through the Singapore-Malaysia land checkpoints over the long weekend from 29 Apr-3 May. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority recorded 201,900 travellers departing Singapore by car, 155,700 by bus, and 133,700 on motorcycles. 436,800 travellers crossed the land borders over the Good Friday weekend on 15-17 Apr

Agoda data has shown that Singapore is the 7th most popular destination for Indian tourists in the 2022 Eid period

Agoda data has shown that Japan while ranked as the 3rd most desired destination for Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia travellers in 2019, it didn’t make the top 10 in 2022 due to border closures

Almost 280,000 travellers left Singapore for Malaysia, crossing the land border on 29 and 30 Apr, ahead of the long weekend

The Sabah Tourism Board attended the Travel Malaysia Digital Fair in Singapore, which promoted the state to Singaporeans

Tourism Australia revealed that 13% of international visitors to Australia transited through Singapore in 2019, which is why it is important to “get those air links up and running and for when the northern hemisphere starts travelling as well”. It also reported that forward bookings between Singapore and Australia have reached 200% of pre-pandemic levels. Rising trends throughout the pandemic include looking for immersive experiences, such as nature and wildlife, as well as seeking more diversity in multiple destinations. Travellers are also staying longer, with average stay for Singaporean travellers increasing from 8 to 10-14 days

Google data has shown that: • “Where to travel searches” grew 336% YoY in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam • Travellers are spending more compared to pre-pandemic, with Google seeing a 100% click growth for accommodation priced at $300 USD or more • Interest in vacation rentals among Southeast Asian travellers increased by over 1,010% YoY • Searches related to sustainability have grown by 45% since 2019, while searches related to greenhouse gas emissions have increased by over 163% in Singapore • Google search trends revealed a rising preference in Southeast Asian travellers to use digital means in their travels from researching trips to making bookings, organising itineraries, checking-in, and sharing travel experiences • Travel insurance searches grew 523% YoY in Mar from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Google search for travel insurance grew 165% YoY from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines collectively • Searches from Singaporean travellers for beach resorts and seaside destinations like Bali, Phuket, Langkawi, and Koh Samui grew 321% YoY in Mar. Searches for luxury resorts grew 1,962% YoY

Malaysian Tourism Minister reported that 204,927 travellers from Singapore have entered Malaysia via land border checkpoints as of 26 Apr since they reopened on 1 Apr. The number is expected to increase ahead of Hari Raya

Johor hotels reported an increase in bookings from Singaporean travellers during the 9-day Hari Raya and school holidays beginning 29 Apr, with occupancy rising in 4 to 5-star hotels

Google data has shown that Singapore’s outbound travel demand has returned to 61% of pre-pandemic levels in Mar, after returning to 27% and 43% in Jan and Feb, respectively. Inbound travel interest returned to 37% of pre-pandemic levels in Jan, increasing to 49% in Feb and further to 64% in Mar

Singapore was granted a Hajj quota of 407 pilgrims by Saudi Arabia, out of the total 850,000 allowed in 2022. The number is less than half of 2019’s quota of 900. Hajj pilgrims must be below 65 years old, fully vaccinated with Saudi-approved vaccines, and submit a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) will announce the Hajj travel agencies and tour packages on 4 May, with the costs expected to increase compared to pre-pandemic. Pilgrims who met the requirements for 2022 Hajj will receive formal offer letters on 5 May

Expedia Group revealed that bookings for travel from Singapore to Thailand nearly doubled following Thailand’s announcement to lift on-arrival testing from 1 May

Tourism Australia launched the Discover A Great Deal More virtual travel fair, offering promotions on transportation, accommodation, and experiences in Australia for Singapore travellers. Flight offers are available through Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Scoot, Jetstar, and Malaysia Airlines, while other promotions can also be found on CheapTickets.sg, Klook, Pelago, and Hertz

Singapore-Malaysia cross-border taxis and public bus services to resume from 1 May. The buses will be operated by Singapore’s SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, and Transtar, and Malaysia’s Causeway Link. The VTL bus services from Transtar Travel and Causeway Link will cease operations from 1 May

Bespoke luxury travel firm Intriq Journey to launch small group trips to Denmark, Saudi Arabia, and eastern Turkey as demand increases post-pandemic for destinations with wide open spaces. The trips would include benefits for a “hassle-free experience”, including chartered flights, as well as exclusive entrances to sites and archaeologist talks

Singapore Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) to boost the tourism industry in Sri Lanka

436,800 travellers crossed the Singapore-Malaysia land borders over the Good Friday weekend (15-17 Apr), up 25% WoW. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reported 112,700 departures from Woodlands Checkpoint on 14 Apr, the highest number of daily departures since land borders reopened on 1 Apr. A total of 242,500 travellers arrived via the Causeway of the Second Link on 15-17 Apr, in which 79,200 arrived by bus or on foot, 105,300 by cars and 58,000 on motorcycles. 194,300 departed from Singapore, with 61,900 travellers departing by bus or on foot, 77,600 by cars and 54,800 on motorcycles

Land Transport Authority announced that the processing time for Vehicle Entry Permits to enter Singapore will be gradually reduced from 7 to 3 weeks, as it has increased its resources to handle the surge of applications following Singapore-Malaysia land border reopenings. About 50,000 applications, or 40% of the total, have received their VEPs ahead of the expected processing time as of 31 Mar

Booking.com’s 2022 Sustainable Travel Research Report has shown that: • 72% of Singapore travellers say that they want to travel more sustainably, with 77% saying that sustainable travel is important to them. 57% say that recent climate change news has influenced them to make more sustainable travel choices • 32% say that the provider’s sustainability efforts are a strong part when choosing accommodation and transportation, with 69% saying that they are more likely to pick a sustainable accommodation, whether they were specifically looking for one or not • 48% have seen a sustainable accommodation on an online travel site over the past year, with 37% actively looking for a property’s sustainability efforts before booking • 54% say they have stayed in sustainable accommodation over the past year, while 84% say they intend to stay in sustainable accommodation in the coming year • 30% of those who didn’t stay in sustainable accommodation over the past year were not aware of their existence. 31% say they still don’t know how to find information on sustainable accommodations. 56% say they don’t actively look for a property’s sustainability efforts before booking, but will do so if the information is easily accessible • 31% of Singapore travellers say they chose to travel outside of peak season and 27% chose to go to less popular destinations over the last 12 months, while 37% say they are willing to exclusively travel outside of peak season and 64% say they will avoid popular tourist destinations in the future. 29% are willing to choose alternative destinations to help prevent overcrowding • 43% struggle to find less crowded destinations that are appealing, while 41% feel like it’s not possible to find sustainable travel options in cities or popular destinations • 54% say that they want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived • 64% want to have experiences that involve local culture • 24% say that they actively familiarise themselves with local cultures ahead of their trips • 27% are willing to pay more for activities that give back to local communities • 25% choose to travel closer to home to reduce carbon footprint • 25% say they researched public transport and/or bicycle rentals at their destination • 27% choose to travel by train instead of cars for longer distances • 36% say they feel ashamed to fly due to its environmental impact • 39% actively look for sustainability information when booking transportation. 54% say they don’t actively look for sustainable transport options, but it still impacts their booking choice and satisfaction. 33% say sustainability efforts don’t matter much, but it could influence their final decision. 28% say sustainability efforts play no role in their transportation choice

Long queues formed at Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore for travellers heading to Malaysia on 14 Apr, before the long weekend. As of 5pm on 14 Apr, 662,900 people departed Singapore via the Causeway and Second Link since 1 Apr

Over 1.2 million travellers have crossed the Singapore-Malaysia land borders since they fully reopened on 1 Apr, with the number of travellers rising 62% WoW on 8-10 Apr. The number of travellers heading to Johor is expected to increase significantly ahead of the Good Friday long weekend (15-17 Apr). The Immigration Checkpoints Authority reported 662,900 people departing Singapore via the Causeway and the Second Link as of 5pm on 14 Apr, with 229,800 departing on foot or buses, 232,800 in cars, and 200,300 on motorcycles. In return, 601,700 arrived in Singapore, with 208,500 arriving on foot or buses, 207,800 in cars and 185,400 on motorcycles. Assistant Commander at Woodlands Checkpoint expects the number of travellers during the long weekend to reach 80% of pre-pandemic levels

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has advised those planning to travel through the land checkpoints on Good Friday weekend to factor in additional time for immigration clearance and avoid peak hours

Vietnam Airlines has launched the “Fly Vietnam Airlines, Re-discover Vietnam” programme in Singapore to promote Vietnam’s safe tourism in the post-pandemic era. Vietnam Airlines, along with partners Thien Minh Group (TMG), Vinpearl, and Caravelle, introduced new tour packages to Singaporean agents, businesses, and customers. The airline will resume direct flights between Singapore and Phu Quoc, Da Nang, and Nha Trang from 1 Jun

Tourism Western Australia revealed that $1.5 million AUD out of its $185 million AUD Reconnect WA package will be dedicated to attracting Singaporean visitors, with activities focused on “intelligent marketing and trade engagement”. Managing Director of Tourism WA said that they are targeting high-value travellers from Singapore, adding that Singaporean travellers typically visit Perth and the Margaret River region. Around 107,000 travellers from Singapore visited Western Australia in 2019, up 8% YoY

Saudi Arabia to allow up to 1 million people, including international pilgrims, to join the Hajj pilgrimage in 2022. Participants from abroad must be under 65 years old and fully vaccinated, and must present a negative PCR test. Saudi Arabia limited Hajj to 60,000 domestic participants in 2021, compared to 2.5 million pre-pandemic

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) revealed that it has received around 76,000 vehicle entry permit (VEP) applications following the Singapore-Malaysia land border reopening, over 6 times the weekly average during the pandemic when the borders were closed. LTA warned that processing times for the VEPs might be longer at around 7 weeks due to the influx of applications. They also “strongly encourage” leisure travellers to delay their plans to allow those with essential needs to make their trips

Singapore travel agencies have started to resume coach services to Malaysian destinations. KKKL Travel & Tours have resumed trips from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, with trips to Genting Highlands, Tioman and Port Dickson also being prepared. WTS Travel will resume its services to Resorts World Genting, while Starmart Express has resumed its services to Kuala Lumpur

Singapore Tourism Board stated that cruises to international destinations from Singapore might reopen by year-end. STB is in discussions with Southeast Asian countries on a set of safe cruise standards, with possible destinations including Bali, Penang, Port Klang, and Phuket. Cruises in Singapore will remain as “cruise to nowhere” sailings with no ports of call for now. Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas will conclude its season in Singapore after operating cruises to nowhere since late 2020 with the arrival of the Spectrum of the Seas

Johor businesses reported only a small to moderate increase in visitors from Singapore since the land border reopening, although business owners are confident that Singaporeans will return in the coming weeks. An estimated 200,000 visitors crossed the Causeway and Second Link Crossing land borders on 2-3 Apr since the border reopened on 1 Apr

Henley Passport Index’s Q2 global ranking named Singapore, jointly with Japan, as having the world’s most powerful passports for the third year in a row, allowing their holders to enjoy visa-free travel to 192 countries

Destination Gold Coast, Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, and Tourism Tropical North Queensland embark on a 3-day trade mission to promote the state to airlines and trade partners in Singapore

YouGov Global Travel Profiles has shown that Singaporeans are more likely to take an international trip (33%) compared to a domestic trip (18%) in the next 12 months. Singaporeans aged 35-44 are most likely to travel domestically (26%) and the least likely to travel overseas (26%). 42% of Singaporeans aged 25-34 are planning to travel overseas in the next 12 months

International travellers, except short-term visitors, flying into Singapore from any country can now take a virtually-supervised ART within 2 days prior to departure to fulfil their pre-departure test requirement. A total of 93 service providers now offer the virtually-supervised ARTs, up from the 27 on 22 Mar. The testing fees start from $12 SGD, and travellers should only use ART kits that are approved for distribution or use in Singapore or the relevant countries or regions

Director of STB said that in resuming international ports of calls for cruises departing from Singapore, safety measures and travel policies, such as COVID-19 testing or insurance requirements, “need to be standardised among the countries that the cruise intends to stop at”. She believes that one COVID-19 test prior to boarding the cruise, without any additional tests when stopping at various ports, would be ideal. APAC Vice President and Managing Director at the Royal Caribbean said that pre-cruise testing, which is mandatory for all Royal Caribbean’s passengers on boarding day, is “likely to remain in the near future”

Malaysia has received 191,293 Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) applications for private vehicles from Singapore in Jan-Mar ahead of Singapore-Malaysia land border reopening. Malaysian Transport Minister reported that only around 65,000 vehicles with RFID tags and valid VEPs were ready to enter Malaysia, adding that the ministry is giving a reprieve for around 125,000 vehicles to enter Malaysia until 7 Apr without needing to install RFID

Around 33,700 travellers crossed the land borders between Singapore and Malaysia as of 5pm, since the borders reopened at midnight. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority reported that 27,600 pax have departed Singapore via the Causeway and the Second Link, with 9,700 travelling by cars, 9,400 on foot or by buses, and 8,500 on motorcycles. In return, 3,500 travellers entered Singapore on foot or by buses, 1,600 in cars, and 1,000 on motorcycles

Causeway Link increased the frequency of its shuttle bus services between Woodlands and Johor Baru's Customs, Immigration and Quarantine to 12 trips per hour during peak hours, from the initial 4 per hour, after queues were formed

Malaysian Transport Minister announced that Malaysia-Singapore stage bus services will start operations on 1 May. There are currently 24 buses operating as part of the Land-VTL and 6 shuttle buses used for border crossings. Both countries’ land transport authorities are in discussions regarding the number of stage buses, to be announced in 2 weeks. The VTL buses will still be used in the next 2 weeks, and it is expected that the number of bus services will return to pre-pandemic levels. As of 1 Apr 4pm, 4,435 Singapore-registered vehicles have entered Malaysia, with 2,835 vehicles going through Sultan Iskandar Building and 1,600 went through the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex

Singaporeans looking to enter Malaysia reportedly faced issues when registering for Malaysia’s MySejahtera app, which required a Malaysian residential address

Mediacorp and Singapore Airline to hold the “Time to Fly online travel fair” from 31 Mar-10 Apr, featuring travel packages for 15 countries including Australia, Canada, Germany and South Korea offered by 10 travel agents: ASA holidays, Chan Brothers, EU Holidays, Hong Thai Travel, Nam Ho, PriceBreaker, Super travels, Traveloka, Trip.com and UOB travel

Malaysia to waive toll payments from 1-7 Apr for Malaysians and users who top up or renew Touch 'n Go and SmartTag entering from Singapore

A new shuttle bus service between Singapore’s Woodlands Checkpoint and Johor Baru’s Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex will run daily at 15-minute intervals from 1 Apr

Malaysian Tourism Minister said that while the ministry did not set a specific target, it hoped that Singapore tourist arrivals would be between 30%-50% of pre-pandemic levels to the country

EU Holidays reported that their sales have doubled in the days after Singapore’s announcement on border reopening from 1 Apr. The firm reported that since the first VTLs launched in Sep 2021, they would see a spike in demand from Singaporean travellers each time a relaxation of pandemic restrictions was announced

The Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal in Malaysia has been launched and is “fully operational”. The terminal will commence operations in 2 phases, launching services to Singapore in the first phase over the next 6 months, and services to Indonesia’s Batam and Bintan in the second phase. Travel between Tanah Merah-Desaru Coast will take around 90 minutes, while travel to Batam and Bintan takes around 75 and 45 minutes respectively. The terminal has obtained all approvals from Malaysian authorities but is still awaiting final approval from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Chairman for Desaru Holdings One said that the new terminal would be a “connectivity and catalytic component” for Desaru Coast to unlock its full potential as an international destination, adding that he hopes the terminal, as the 16th point of entry to Malaysia, can urge socio-economic development

Short-term visitors entering Singapore or Malaysia via the land border will no longer need travel insurance from 1 Apr. Non-fully vaccinated travellers will still be required to purchase COVID-19 travel insurance with a minimum coverage of $20,000 USD

The Transport Minister said that authorities will need time to assess the situation before ramping up land transport services between Singapore and Malaysia. Bus operators Transtar and Causeway Link have said that they will increase services when the border reopens, but have not given further updates. Singapore-Johor train services have also not resumed. The minister added that public transport operators are working with the ministry and the Land Transport Authority to prepare for the resumption of services

Johor Chief Minister noted that traffic congestion is to be expected at Singapore-Malaysia checkpoints as border reopens. He added that the immigration complexes will be “100% operational”. He said that around 400,000 pax with 42,000 vehicles travelled across the Causeway daily pre-pandemic and he expects similar numbers in the first week of reopening on 1-7 Apr. Malaysian Transport Minister also expects an influx of Malaysians returning home on 1-2 Apr for Awal Ramadan and Qingming celebrations

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority reported that the number of passport applications is hitting 6,000 daily since Mar as borders eased, triple the pre-pandemic level of 2,000 per day, due to pent-up demand of around 1 million expired and expiring passports throughout the pandemic border closures. ICA warned applicants that the passport application process will take more time and reminded Singaporeans that it is not mandatory to renew their passports if they do not have any travel plans for the next 6 months

Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor will not be required to pay the RM20 Road Charge for 7 days, starting from 1 Apr in order to give travellers the opportunity to top up their Touch ‘n Go cards in Johor or register for the Vehicles Entry Permit. Touch ‘n Go cards in Singapore have mostly sold out, with stocks to be replenished at physical stores from early Apr. EZ-Link will sell its card on Shopee from 29 Mar, and said selected Cheers outlets around the Woodlands Checkpoint will have stocks from 1 Apr

All public transportation between Singapore and Malaysia to resume services on 1 Apr, including stage buses, express buses, tourist buses, worker buses and taxis. Those entering Malaysia from Singapore via private cars must possess a vehicles entry permit (VEP). Singapore-registered private cars will be required to pay an RM20 Road Charge upon entry via the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoints

Expedia reported that searches doubled in the three days leading up to Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Framework announcement. Outbound flight searches for destinations like Stockholm (+270%), Perth (+50%) and Zurich (+50%) increased significantly, making them the top trending destinations among Singaporeans over the last 7 days. The firm expects inbound demand to also increase, with the US, the UK, and Australia remaining the top three inbound markets QoQ

YouGov's Profile Peek into Singapore’s travel insurance buyers has shown that: • 11% of Singaporeans are likely to be travel insurance buyers • 22% of travel insurance buyers are aged 45-54, 62% are male, 76% are working full time, 32% have a monthly income higher than $10,000 SGD, 63% are married, 31% have a child below 18, while 18% have 2 children below 18 • 60% of travel insurance buyers prefer outdoor events in natural spaces to indoor events, 57% seek experiences that can make great content for social media, 32% like sports and 23% enjoy playing sports. This compares respectively to 40%, 28%, 22%, and 16% of the whole nation • 56% of travel insurance buyers are more willing to shop at Duty Free Shops rather than main stores, compared to 38% of the nation. 40% would be more likely to wait for last minute deals rather than booking in advance, compared to 19% of the nation. 16% have travelled using a package deal, while only 4% of all Singaporeans have done so • 24% of travel insurance buyers named Southeast Asia as the next destination they want to travel to for leisure, compared to 17% of the nation. 11% named Western Europe, compared to 6% of the nation

The bus operators currently running the Singapore-Malaysia Land-VTL bus services said they are anticipating a high demand for cross-border bus services when border restrictions are relaxed from 1 Apr. Causeway Link said that it is ready to recruit more drivers and is also considering raising bus fares, subject to approval from authorities. Transtar Travel also expressed readiness to hire up to 50% more drivers and adjust the number of trips accordingly

Traveloka reported a surge in flight and hotel demand following the announcement of Singapore’s border reopening, with a 152% increase in average search volume and 227% increase in average booking volume. Expedia also reported that flight searches doubled compared to the day before the announcement was made, adding that New York, Tokyo, Bangkok, and London were the most-searched destinations. Luxury travel specialist Intriq Journey, which focuses on exotic destinations, received 2 confirmed bookings immediately after the announcement. Chan Brothers reported a 50% surge in enquiries since the announcement and said that the firm plans to increase tour frequency and offer trips to more destinations

The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) noted that the travel industry lost a lot of manpower due to uncertainties and mass layoffs during the pandemic, and that gaining them back “will take a lot of convincing as some of them . . . may not want to take another risk by returning to the industry and may be comfortable in their new industry”. Companies will also face difficulties in deciding the number of people to recruit considering the possibility of the return to tightened restrictions and the need to right-size comes up again. NATAS is collaborating with NTUC and STB to address the manpower shortage by boosting the industry’s digital capabilities to attract more young talent

The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore aims to bring back its annual travel fair in Aug or Sep, following a 2-year hiatus due to the pandemic

Riau Islands has replaced the Travel Bubble arrangement with a visa-free entry policy for Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents from ASEAN countries: • The visa-waiver is valid for 14 days and not extendable • Travellers will need a passport with a min. of 6 month validity, proof of permanent residency in Singapore, return or onward ticket, pre-booked accommodation, insurance and other requirements stipulated by the COVID-19 Task Force • Visa-free entry points include Batam’s Nongsa Point Marina, Batam Centre, Sekupang, Citra Tri Tunas, and Senimbar Bay Marina, and Bintan’s Bandar Bentan Telani, Lagoi, Bandar Seri Udana Lobam, and Tanjung Pinang through Sri Bintan Pura. Travellers are allowed to depart from any point in Indonesia • Citizens and permanent residents from ASEAN of Singapore can also apply for a Visa on Arrival when entering Riau Islands should they require a longer stay period. The VoAs cost $35 USD and valid for 30 days with possible extensio

Tourism stakeholders welcome Singapore’s decision to ease travel restrictions. President of NATAS regards the decision as a “game changer” that can “usher the return of travel business in a more significant way”. Klook reported that weekly sales and traffic reached “triple-digit growth figures” as border measures eased, with high interests in destinations like Bangkok, Bali, the US, Switzerland, and Australia. The firm saw a 3-fold increase in bookings in Mar

Singapore and Malaysia to fully reopen land borders for fully vaccinated travellers from 1 Apr. The Ministry of Trade and Industry urged the public not to rush to travel if there is no urgent need and added that traffic congestion at checkpoints is expected as there might be a surge in cross-border land travellers. Regulations for the reopening include: • Free travel via all modes of transport, including driving, will be permitted without the need for quarantine or pre-departure and on-arrival tests • Non-fully vaccinated children aged 12 and below will also no longer need to take pre-departure and on-arrival tests or serve SHN • Daily quota of land travellers between the 2 countries will be lifted • All travellers must have valid passports and vehicle entry permits (VEP), while those crossing the Causeway, including Singapore citizens, PRs, and long-term pass holders, must also complete the SG Arrival Card within 3 days prior to arrival

The Multi-ministry Task Force has announced that air crew will be allowed to resume normal activities in Singapore and overseas, with similar testing requirements as vaccinated travellers in place. Airport workers will no longer be subject to regular COVID-19 testing and will only need to wear surgical masks, except for higher-risk roles who will also need face shields and gloves. Singapore’s airport will no longer be separated into zones and travellers will be able to move freely in the transit area

“Hong Kong: Through the Looking Glass” miniature art exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board to debut in Singapore, running from 4-17 Apr

The Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) will launch a large campaign, "Unveiling a New Japan, Captivating Experiences", aimed at Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, highlighting local and unique experiences in rural Japan, as well as the safety measures in place

Scoot has appointed VMLY&R to support creative, brand, and social campaigns and PHD to support media planning and buying, replacing the current appointed agencies that are nearing the end of contractual term; BLKJ Havas (creative), GroupM’s Essence (global media), and BCW Singapore (PR)

Johor business groups call for an increase in daily VTL-Land passenger quota to at least 10,000. They said Johor has traditionally been dependent on visitors from Singapore pre-pandemic, and while the increased quota from 2,160 to the current 3,420 has slightly improved the situation, it is “still not enough to aid in the overall local economic recovery”

Thailand’s Department of Disease Control has proposed a new protocol to Singapore regarding Singapore-Phuket VTL cruises. Under the plan, tourists will not be required to take an on-arrival PCR test but will be required to take an antigen test within 24 hours prior to departure. Travellers from Singapore will be restricted to travel in Phuket according to pre-scheduled plans. Thailand expects to launch the pilot plan in Q3. Singapore will propose the plan to relevant parties before Thailand presents the final proposal to its Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) for approval

Penang welcomed 210 travellers from Singapore across 2 flights on the first day of VTL implementation

Travellers from countries with visa-waiver arrangements with New Zealand, including Singapore, will be allowed to enter New Zealand from 1 May

Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry held a meeting with Singapore’s Second Minister of Trade and Industry to discuss tourism cooperation between the two countries. He discussed the possibility to ease testing requirements for the Batam Bintan-Singapore VTL to only antigen testing instead of PCR test and to increase the traveller quota for the VTL. He also said that there are potentials for cooperation in wellness and medical tourism with Singapore, adding that medical tourism infrastructure is among the things being prepared at the 5 Super Priority Destinations

Singaporean tourists visiting Batam and Bintan will no longer be limited to designated areas in the travel bubble and will be allowed to travel freely in all areas of Batam and Bintan. Riau Islands Tourism Office hopes that the easing of border restrictions could be implemented for other areas in the province as well, not only Batam and Bintan

Singapore announced that it cannot pre-determine the date for reopening fully for Malaysians for now, although it welcomes Malaysia’s announcement of border reopening from 1 Apr. Co-chair of the Multi-ministry Taskforce on COVID-19 said that detailed arrangements are being discussed by both countries and details will be announced “when it is ready”. He added that it is a “major undertaking” and that the plan would involve “significant adjustment and fine-tuning of the operations on the ground”, considering daily cases are still in the thousands and there would be a significant number of people crossing the border daily. The Health Minister stated that the expansion of travel arrangements with Malaysia needs to consider the timing and should be done “when the pandemic situation on both sides allow it”

The daily quota for the Singapore-Malaysia land VTL to be increased from 2,160 to 3,420 passengers from 14 Mar, with ticket sales under the higher quota starting from 11 Mar

Desaru Link Ferry Services, a subsidiary of Batam Fast Ferry, has been appointed by Desaru Coast Destination Resort to run services between Singapore and Desaru in Johor following Malaysia’s announcement of 1 Apr border reopening. The ferry will run 2 round trips on Thu-Sun and one round trip on Mon-Wed and can carry 150-338 passengers. The resort and ferry operator said that the frequency and capacity of ferries will increase along with the improvement of market conditions and the recovery of the tourism sector

Start-up tech company Utu has partnered with KrisFlyer to launch the Tax-Free Card, offering 25% more on tax refunds in 50 countries, including Singapore, France, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, and the UAE, where VAT and GST refunds can be credited to frequent flyer accounts instead of a lower cash or credit card refund

The Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that they are working with Malaysia to expand VTL-Land to allow land border crossing for vaccinated travellers via other transport modes

Malaysia’s Tourism Minister announced that the Singapore-Malaysia land route via the Johor Causeway and the Second Link will reopen simultaneously with Malaysia’s border reopening

Chan Brothers Travel Marketing Communications Manager informed that the firm’s bookings have increased 30-fold YoY and that around 35% of its tour staff have returned to work, with more expected to do so. He added that consumer sentiment on leisure travel is expected to increase this year due to the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions in European countries

Booking.com South Asia-Pacific Regional Director said that almost 4 in 5 Singaporeans were up for a vacation if budget permits according to the Booking.com's travel predictions research

Dynasty Travel spokesperson said the firm is stepping up efforts to launch new tours, especially to remote areas such as the Arctic, Antarctica and Galapagos. He expressed optimism that the Omicron wave will subside by Q2, which will give people more confidence to arrange travel plans

YouGov DestinationIndex has shown that Singaporean women are most interested in visiting Japan (45%) for their next leisure trip, followed by Taiwan (33%), South Korea (31%), New Zealand (30%), Australia (29%), Switzerland (25%), Malaysia (20%), Thailand (20%), the UK (20%), and Canada (17%)

Singapore to launch new VTLs with Vietnam and Greece, as well as expand the VTLs with Malaysia, Indonesia, and India to more cities from 16 Mar, with vaccinated travel pass applications to open on 13 Mar. The Malaysian VTL will be expanded to include Penang, Indonesian VTL will be expanded to include Bali, while Indian VTL will now include all cities. Singapore has now established VTLs with all European countries with direct flights to Singapore with the addition of the VTL with Greece, and will broaden the travel history requirement to include the entire European Economic Area from 16 Mar. Singapore has established VTLs with 30 countries since 8 Sep 2021 and has issued 348,518 VTPs as of 3 Mar. A total of 456,215 VTL travellers have entered Singapore

Singapore-based HalalTrip to restart its Productive Muslim Retreats after suspension due to the pandemic with an Uzbekistan tour in May. All 40 seats in the tour were sold out by 1 Mar, after attracting over 200 applicants within a month of advertisements

Singaporean and Malaysian police authorities to investigate allegations of fraudulent VTL-Land bus ticket sales in which Malaysian workers in Singapore were offered $100-200 SGD per ticket from the supposed price of $15 SGD

Hong Kong tourism players are doubtful regarding the Singapore-Hong Kong VTL amid Hong Kong’s current COVID-19 surge. Managing Director of W Travel, which specialises in Southeast Asian markets reported that interest and enquiries from Singapore travellers in Dec faded due to the outbreak. He doubted that Singapore tourists would visit Hong Kong at the moment unless it is to visit relatives. Executive Director of Hong Kong’s Gray Line Tours noted that even though Hong Kong residents could enter Singapore quarantine-free, they would need to serve a 7 to 14-day quarantine upon return. He predicts that VTL demand would be nonexistent in the next 6 months. General Manager of KKday, on the other hand, expressed optimism that the VTL would encourage tourism recovery in the future, while it would benefit business travellers for now

Club Med Bintan to reopen on 8 Mar following the establishment of the Batam Bintan-Singapore Travel Bubble. Club Med CEO for East and South Asia & Pacific Markets revealed that web traffic from Singaporean travellers increased 83% while resort bookings increased 4-fold within 3 days since the announcement of the travel bubble

Nearly 40,000 bus tickets for the Singapore-Malaysia Land-VTL were sold on 16 Feb, following the reinstatement of passenger quota for trips from 22 Feb. Singapore’s Transtar Travel has sold all available tickets through to 21 Mar, while Malaysia’s Causeway Link has sold all 7,560 VTL tickets from 22-28 Feb. Only work permit holders and short-term visitors eligible to travel via Land-VTL will be required to apply for a vaccinated travel pass, while long-term pass holders are no longer required to

Singapore to launch Sea-VTL with Batam and Bintan from 25 Feb, with vaccinated travel pass application opening on 22 Feb. A quota of 700 travellers per week will be set, 350 each from Batam’s Nongsapura terminal and Bintan’s Bandar Bintan Telani terminal to Singapore’s Tanah Merah terminal. The ferries will be operated by Batam Fast and Bintan Resort ferries

Singapore Airlines has resumed its direct Singapore-Bali route after nearly 2 years, running 7 return flights a week, which could be adjusted according to demand. The first flight from Singapore to Bali carried 156 passengers, comprising 109 foreign tourists and 47 Indonesian passengers, while the return flight from Bali to Singapore carried 83 passengers, which were mostly Indonesians

Singapore-Malaysia VTL-Land quota to be fully reinstated from 22 Feb, with ticket sales starting from 16 Feb

First Singapore-Batam ferry carrying passengers under the Batam Bintan-Singapore Travel Bubble to depart from Singapore’s Tanah Merah terminal and arrive at Batam’s Nongsapura terminal on 18 Feb. The ferry will run one return trip per day at a max. 50% capacity of 120 passengers

Australia to further ease border measures from 21 Feb to include all fully-vaccinated visa holders to enter the country without a travel exemption, including eligible non-citizens in Singapore who are not permitted to travel under the travel bubble arrangement. Travellers returning to Singapore from Australia on non-VTL flights would be subject to a 7-day SHN

The Tourism Ministry and Hospitality operators in Batam and Bintan expressed readiness for a bilateral travel bubble with Singapore. Group General Manager of Bintan Resort Cakrawala said that the Bintan Beach International Resort has an in-house lab that can process guests’ PCR tests within an hour and added that their staff are 98% fully vaccinated and have been certified under Indonesia’s CHSE and Singapore’s CovSafeSG. Deputy of Marketing for the Tourism Ministry revealed that bookings for the Batam Bintan-Singapore travel bubble surged within minutes of its announcement but has been since withdrawn due to the lack of clarity and approval from the Singapore government to operate the ferries to and from Singapore

PM Lee welcomed the strengthening of cooperation between Singapore and Saudi Arabia, including economic cooperation through the Saudi-Singapore Joint Committee. He hoped that Singapore’s request for an increased hajj quota would be considered by Saudi Arabia when hajj resumes for international pilgrims

Chubb Singapore announced a No-Questions-Asked-Policy-Cancellation and Refund campaign for all Chubb-underwritten individual Single-Trip travel policies issued between 16 Dec-31 Mar. Division Head of Accident & Health of the company said that the campaign was introduced to provide customers with a “straightforward experience” and “greater confidence” amid the uncertainties regarding international travel

Australia to launch Yours to Explore campaign worth $2.8 million USD targeted towards Singapore residents to promote tours, self-drive packages, and others in partnership with Chan Brothers, UOB Travel, and Klook. Regional General Manager of South & Southeast Asia at Tourism Australia stated that the large investment is necessary due to Australia’s status as the top destination among Singaporean tourists, with over 80% repeat visitation

Assemblyman of Pelawan, Malaysia said that a Singapore-Sibu direct flight can “open up the central region gateway to international market” and promote tourism in the area

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expect Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and the Indian outbound markets to rebound first to Thailand

The Nongsa Resort and Golf Management Association has expressed readiness to welcome Singaporean tourists, though the Singaporean government has not yet issued the permit for tourist transport, which was supposedly scheduled for 4 Feb. The Singapore-Riau Safe Travel Bubble has started for trial from 24 Jan, but no tourists from Singapore have arrived in either Batam or Bintan

Bintan Resorts held a forum with its Singapore travel trade partners to address procedural concerns regarding the Singapore-Riau Travel Bubble. Group General Manager of Bintan Resorts revealed that his team has yet to receive directives from Singapore authorities on how travellers will return to Singapore, as the travel bubble is currently still a unilateral arrangement. He added that his team is planning fam trips for travel trade partners, event organisers, trade journalists, and travel bloggers to showcase Bintan’s readiness for tourism reopening

Singapore and Taiwan to recognise each other’s digital COVID-19 test and vaccination certificates, further easing cross-border travel between the two countries

Singapore and Malaysia are in talks about increasing the quota for VTLs depending on the COVID-19 situation in both countries, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia revealed. He is “hopeful” that the quota would be increased in the coming months

YouTrip, a Singapore-based multi-currency wallet, has revealed that: • In Nov-Dec 2021, total overseas spending among local users increased 400% YoY, total airline bookings increased 700% YoY, hotel bookings increased 500% YoY, and purchases on travel agencies and attractions increased over 1300% YoY • One in two travellers were in the 20-35 age range. 30% were in the 35-50 age range, while 20% were above 50 years old • Average overseas in-store spending of those aged 20-35 was $1,000 SGD, up 50% from 2019, the biggest increase in spending among the age groups. Those over 50 years old were the biggest spenders, with an average of $1,500 SGD per trip, up 20% from 2019 • Top 5 destinations for Singaporeans in Nov-Dec 2021 were the US, the UK, Australia, Germany, and France • Luxury shopping was a popular travel agenda, with Galeries Lafayette, Chanel, Hermes, Prada, and Burberry occupying the top 5 overseas shopping merchants for Singaporeans, a contrast to the more affordable brands in 2019

Singaporeans are advised against travelling to Ukraine due to escalating tension between Ukraine and Russia

Singaporean travellers under the Batam Bintan-Singapore Travel Bubble are required to take a PCR test prior to their return and serve 7-day SHN upon arrival in Singapore

Singapore Tourism Board has started discussion with ASEAN authorities to allow Singaporeans to take cruises to other countries later this year. Royal Caribbean has announced that it will offer 3-9 night sailings aboard the Spectrum of the Seas from 21 Oct that will visit Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. STB’s Assistant Chief Executive of Policy and Planning Group revealed that STB is in talks with various cruise lines to run cruises in Singapore, many of which used to sail out of Singapore pre-pandemic

Singapore PM revealed that Singapore and Indonesia will discuss making the Batam-Bintan Travel Bubble a two-way one. He added that discussions will continue to expand air and sea travel between the countries, and to more destinations in Indonesia. He said that Singapore has proposed to start discussions about a bilateral VTL to more destinations in Indonesia, so that it would be ready to be implemented when the “conditions are suitable”

Indonesia hopes to expand the quarantine-free travel corridor scheme for Singaporean travellers to Bali, following the opening of the Batam-Bintan Travel Bubble, Indonesian Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister revealed. He added that he had asked the Indonesian Transport Minister to increase direct flights from Singapore to Bali

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment stated that the Batam-Bintan Travel Bubble will be evaluated in two weeks’ time and might be considered for suspension if problems arises

Preliminary data from the Singapore Tourism Board has shown that: • Singapore welcomed 330,000 international visitors in 2021, a historic low and an over 80% drop YoY, while tourism receipts more than halved to an estimated $1.8 billion, compared to $4.8 billion in 2020. STB clarified that the decline in 2021 is mostly due to the strong performance of the first 2 months of 2020, which contributed to most of the year’s arrivals • Visitor arrivals in Apr-Dec 2021 increased by 221% YoY, while tourism spending for Apr-Sep was 92% higher YoY • Top 3 visitor sources were China with 88,000 visitors, India with 54,000, and Indonesia with 33,000 • Tourism receipts in Jan-Sep reached $1.2 billion USD, with visitors from China contributing $432 million, Indonesia $127 million, and India $58 million • Average occupancy rate for hotels hit 56.2%, down 1.1 percentage points YoY. Average room rate increased 2.7% to $158, while REVPAR stays at $89 SGD • 168 travel agents ceased their licenses, just slightly above normal numbers (120-150), while about 13 hotels and hostels have shut down in 2021 • MICE picked up in 2021, with over 200 events bringing in nearly 50,000 local and international attendees

Ferry operators to Batam and Bintan reported increased inquiries from Singaporean travellers following the announcement of the Batam-Bintan Travel Bubble, despite the 7-day SHN required upon returning to Singapore. Batam’s Nongsa Resorts reported inquiries mainly came from travellers who are interested in golf, who want to travel but not take flights, and are interested in longer periods of stays. Batam Fast Ferry General Manager warned of a possible increase in ferry ticket price due to the need to house workers within the travel bubble area and the cost for workers’ routine COVID-19 testing

Changi Airport Group survey on tourists travelling through the airport has shown that up to 90% said they want to visit Vietnam as soon as travel restrictions are lifted. They look to visit with family and friends to enjoy famous landscapes, beaches, and local specialties. Top destinations include HCMC, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ha Long Bay

Club Med Bintan saw a surge in website traffic following the announcement of the Batam Bintan-Singapore Travel Bubble, according to its Senior Vice President for Commercial Southeast Asia and Marketing Asia Pacific

Indonesia has officially announced the Batam Bintan-Singapore Travel Bubble. Singaporeans will be permitted to enter through Batam’s Nongsapura ferry terminal or Bintan’s Bandar Bentan Telani terminal and are not allowed to leave Batam or Bintan throughout their stay. Travellers must be fully-vaccinated, take a pre-departure and on-arrival PCR test, prepare travel insurance worth $30,000 SGD, and use Indonesia’s PeduliLindungi and Blue Pass for COVID-19 tracing. Indonesian Tourism Minister clarified that Indonesians are not able to enter Singapore through the travel corridor. He added that the Bintan terminal is ready to welcome 50-100 tourists from Singapore daily, which will be increased gradually to 500 daily through 8 trips

Health Ministry has announced the resumption of air and bus ticket sales for Singapore-Malaysia VTL, with the quota reduced by 50%

The Singapore Office of the Japan National Tourism Organisation to hold first-ever virtual Japan Fair 2022 on 28 Jan-13 Mar, featuring virtual tours and workshops as well as interactive live broadcast from locations in Japan

Indonesian Tourism Minister disclosed that a travel bubble policy between Singapore and the Riau Islands is being finalised and an official announcement about the opening will be made on 24 Jan. The travel bubble will be limited to arrivals by sea from Singapore to Nongsa in Batam city and Lagoi in Bintan district

A VTL between Singapore and Malaysia’s Kota Kinabalu has been proposed, according to Malaysian Tourism Minister

All passengers to Taiwan arriving from Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam will need to wait for an on-arrival PCR test before being able to clear the airport

Tripadvisor data has shown that the average stay duration of Singaporean tourists has fallen 18% from pre-pandemic period to 2.7 days, though they searched for longer trips in 2021 than in 2020. They also spent 7% more on their average booking in 2021 that in 2019

Milieu Insight’s survey commissioned by The Straits Times on 1,000 people aged 16 and above has shown that: • 28% of Singaporeans plan to travel overseas in 2022 even if the global pandemic situation remains the same. Of those, one-fifth has already traveled for leisure since the pandemic started • 43% of 25-34 year olds intend to travel in 2022, the highest proportion compared to 16-24 year olds with 35%, 35-44 year olds with 25%, 45-54 year olds with 20%, and 55 and older with 18% • 50% of those intending to travel in 2022 choose Southeast Asia as the region they intend to travel to, followed by Asia outside SEA at 45%, Europe at 37%, Australia and/or New Zealand at 36%, and North America at 16

Survey by luxury travel operator Scott Dunn on 4,000 Singaporeans has shown that: • Many are desperate to travel in 2022, with over 80% looking to take a min. of 2 international trips • More have become comfortable with the idea of quarantines upon returning from trips due to working from home for the past 2 years • Unpredictable pandemic situation drives consumer, especially those with high and middle income, to opt for bespoke tailor-made travel with the help of travel operators to manage travel risks • Three key trends for travel in 2022 are predicted to be: booking trips based on new interests or “Ed-venture”, ticking off the bucket list (29%), and celebratory holidays or reconnecting with loved ones

ForwardKeys report has shown a surge in flight bookings to and from Singapore on 22 Dec 2021, the day before the suspension of VTL ticket sales. Tickets issued during the following week (23-29 Dec) for inbound travel dropped by 51% and outbound by 76% WoW

Hong Kong bans passengers from 153 countries, including Singapore, to transit at its airport, as China’s travel measures tighten ahead of the Winter Olympics

Customers face sudden booking cancellations after buying VTL bus tickets from Transtar Travel via Shopee for the 10-28 Feb period, due to issues with the online form. The company assured that customers with cancelled tickets will automatically get a full refund. Transtar Travel Managing Director added that tickets from 10-28 Feb had sold out. The bus company, who previously sold tickets one day at a time, decided to open bookings via Shopee on 12 Jan for a period of 19 days to allow people to better prepare their travel and leave arrangements, according to a Land Transport Authority spokesperson. Demand for the Chinese New Year period remains high, with all 7,560 tickets for 7-13 Feb from Causeway Link sold out within 30 minutes

All 6,480 bus tickets for the Malaysia-Singapore land VTL under Causeway Link were booked in hours for travel over Chinese New Year from 1-6 Feb

Tripadvisor 2022 travel trends research has shown that: • 82% Singaporeans are likely to vacation in 2022, up 2 percentage points from 2019 • Singaporean travellers booking value is expected to increase by an average of 7% • 28% of Singaporeans who travelled for leisure in 2019 said it’s more important now than before the pandemic to splurge on a big trip • 74% of Singaporeans plan to travel domestically for leisure, while 53% plan to travel abroad • 49% of Singaporeans said that travelling to a destination they’ve never been to before would be more important now compared to pre-pandemic, while 73% said it’s important to “see new places” when thinking about future travel plans • 44% of Singaporeans said it’s more important now compared to pre-pandemic, that they choose a destination where they can immerse themselves in “authentic local experiences” • 85% of Singaporeans said that cleanliness measures of a hospitality business will be an important factor in their travel decision making in 2022, even after COVID-19 cases have dropped • Approx. 7 in 10 respondents said that destinations with a low number of COVID-19 cases are important when deciding on where to travel next • 55% of Singaporeans who aren’t travelling in 2022 said they’ve decided against it because of uncertainty surrounding travel restrictions

Singapore-based tourism startup LynKey’s first projects to be announced in Q1 2022 and will digitise properties and resorts in Vietnam. LynKey has launched a “blockchain-powered token marketplace and ecosystem”, which will “tokenise all aspects of property development – purchases, leases, land use and related tourism entertainment” worth $8 billion USD. The company aims to combine “property tech and smart tourism experiences, from resorts and cruises with NFTs and metaverse AR and VR solutions”

Singapore ranked first on the passport usability index, allowing its holders access to 192 countries without a prior visa, according to the latest ranking by Henley and Partners

Indonesian President and Singapore PM to meet in Bintan, Indonesia on 25 Jan to discuss G-to-G agreement on opening cross-border tourism between the two countries. Singapore is currently the largest contributor of foreign tourists to the Riau Islands, especially Bintan. Head of the Bintan Tourism Department expects the border to open by end of Jan

FCM has launched a fee-free travel management programme for start-ups to mid-sized companies in Singapore, providing fee-free business travel for all flight and hotel bookings, as well as technology support

Chan Brothers have reported that their sales from VTL packages have reached just 5% of their previous levels, but that they are seeing “positive reception from our customers overall thus far despite a couple of bumps along the way”

Decision to continue suspension or resume operation of the Singapore-Malaysia VTL will be announced at least 48 hours before 20 Jan, the last day of the current temporary suspension of ticket sales. Transport Minister said the decision will be based on the situation at that time

Brunei has temporarily removed all countries, including Singapore, from the Travel Green List from 1 Jan amid Omicron threats, with the new guideline only allowing for essential travel in and out of the country

Singapore-Malaysia VTL bus operators urged travellers to purchase tickets directly from official sales channels, following the emergence of services on other websites offering to buy tickets on travellers’ behalf and selling them at an increased price

Travellers rushed to confirm bookings for flights or buses into Singapore before ticket sale suspensions kick in, with many queueing for hours at the Singapore Airlines service center in Orchard Road and calling travel agents with queries or to issue tickets for their trips

Travel agency Chan Brothers said that confirmed tours will not be affected by VTL ticket sales freeze, while SA Tours had anticipated the suspension and did not accept any bookings for Dec-Jan. Hong Thai Travel had given their customers who booked Dec trips an option to postpone until Feb when Omicron cases emerged, and all their customers have decided to do so. CTC Travel has postponed most of its Dec leisure tours to Feb or Mar

Singapore-Malaysia VTL-Land to reduce capacity equivalent to 24 bus rides per day for each way from 21 Jan following announcement of suspension of VTL ticket sales and reduction in capacity. Bus operators can still sell tickets from 21 Jan onwards and Malaysia’s Causeway Link has reportedly sold out all tickets from 21 Jan to 31 Jan on the previously expanded quota, stating that all passengers will be served despite exceeding the new reduced capacity

Over 35,000 passengers have travelled between Singapore and Malaysia via the Woodlands Checkpoint since the easing of border measures, with 24,540 travelling from Singapore to Malaysia and 12,455 travelling the other way. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will improve immigration process from Jan including: self-scanning of passports, installing glass shields at immigration counters, and implementing the electronic Visit Pass system for those entering Singapore, which will replace stamps in passports

Expedia’s Travel Trends Report for 2022 has shown that: • 73% of Singapore travellers want to go on the “Greatest of all Trips (GOAT)” in 2022 • 43% of Singapore travellers prioritise enjoyment over budget and are willing to splurge • 41% of travellers with the “GOAT” mindset seek trips that boost health and wellness, while 38% seek to relish the excitement and 37% for the fulfilment of the trip • 22% of travellers crave digital detox holidays • 26% are willing to step out of their comfort zone to try new things, and 32% of those are seeking local engagements and cultural experiences • Travellers are seeking adventure activities: 24% want to sleep under the stars, 17% want to go skydiving, and 13% want to go night trekking on a volcano • 29% of travellers prefer traveling without itineraries, with 28% looking forward to being more spontaneous and living in the moment

Businesses in Johor, Malaysia hope VTL-Land expansion can bring full economic recovery, anticipating more people from Singapore to shop and travel in Johor. Tourism Johor Director hopes Singaporean tourists will progressively come back to destinations such as Johor Bahru, Kota Tinggi, Mersing, and Kukup in Pontian and noted that Johor tourism is doing well, with hotels seeing 70% take up rate in Nov after commencement of VTL-Land

Australia and Singapore has resumed the two-way no-quarantine travel after a three-week suspension, allowing fully vaccinated Singaporeans to visit parts of Australia including Sydney and Melbourne from 21 Dec

Passenger traffic in Changi Airport has crossed 5% of pre-pandemic levels for the first time since borders shut down in Mar 2020. Managing Director of Air Hub Development at Changi Airport Group revealed that the number of passengers passing through Changi in Nov was around 6-7% of pre-pandemic levels, owing to the launch of VTLs

EU Holidays has postponed a tour to Italy scheduled for 27 Jan following Italy’s ban on Singapore tourists, while Chan Brothers Travel has no tour groups to Italy that will be affected and has not seen cancellations for tours to other VTL destinations

Malaysia-Singapore VTL-Land daily quota to be increased to 2,100 people each way from 20 Dec if current health situation permits

Italy has deemed Singapore a higher-risk country and banned leisure travellers from entering the country until 31 Jan 2022. Travellers with work, health, or study reasons may still enter with a 10-day self-isolation period, and leisure travellers are still permitted to transit in Italy as long as they stay within the designated areas at the airports. Singapore Airlines announced that Singapore customers who have booked tickets for Italy can seek a refund, and said that VTL flights for Italian travellers to Singapore will still continue to operate

Italian Ambassador to Singapore suspects that Italy’s ban on Singapore’s leisure traveller might be a “clerical mistake”, considering the current lower number of cases and high vaccination rate in Singapore. He added that the ban will also affect Italian travellers returning home as they will have to serve a 10-day quarantine, and has asked Italy’s Ministry of Health to review the travel restriction

Bus ticket quota for VTL-Land to be increased by 50% from 20 Dec following the expansion of the scheme, adding 720 more available seats daily. Bus operators will increase daily bus services, with Causeway Link adding 10 in each direction and Transtar adding 8

YouGov reported that international travel intent in Singapore stays at 33% in Nov, the same number YoY

Singapore and Malaysia to expand the VTL-Land scheme so that vaccinated Singaporeans, including leisure travellers, can enter Malaysia and vice versa from 20 Dec

Proposed Singapore-Malaysia VTL-Sea route could bring Singapore travellers to Desaru in around 90 minutes, compared to the 3-hour travel via road. Managing Director and CEO for the Desaru Coast development believes that this route could be a “game changer” for Desaru attractions

Some South Korean business owners are not aware on how to check vaccination status of VTL travellers, causing trouble for some Singaporeans in gaining entry to public places like restaurants or cafes

First week of VTL-Land sees 11,963 travellers, 3,108 of whom travelling into Singapore and 8,855 travelling into Malaysia. The number of VTL-Land travellers coming into Malaysia hit the 1,440 travellers daily quota from 3-5 Dec

India has lifted quarantine restrictions on Singapore, allowing for VTL resumption

Discontinued Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail project sees possibilities for revival, with discussions in early stages, and a reduction in costs has not yet been raised

Saliva testing has been approved as an option for COVID-19 pre-departure test for those travelling overseas from Singapore. Currently 2 clinics, Gainhealth Clinic in Ang Mo Kio and telemedicine company MyDoc, are offering the saliva tests. Results will be available within 24 hours and the pricing is similar to PCR tests which range from $107-200 SGD

Trafalgar to offer customised private tours for groups of 12 or more to Singaporeans looking to travel to Europe under the VTL, with free cancellations or booking adjustments in case of travel advisory changes. Travellers can choose from over 300 tours to destinations like Spain, Ireland, and Hungary

CTC Travel reported that the number of enquiries for travel to VTL countries dropped by 20%-30%, and ForwardKeys noted that 49% of all outbound Singapore air bookings for any future travels and 38% of inbound Singapore air bookings were cancelled amid news of the Omicron variant. Australia, South Korea, India and the Philippines have the most outbound trips from Singapore cancelled, while Australia, the UK and Indonesia are the top countries cancelling inbound trips

Singapore-Malaysia VTL will remain open despite Omicron cases being detected in both countries. Health authorities of both countries are corresponding daily and will coordinate response depending on the COVID-19 situation

Malaysia and Singapore to observe land VTL for two weeks to one month and see whether more appropriate SOP will be needed following the emergence of the Omicron variant. Two COVID-19 cases, one traveller from Singapore and one from Malaysia, have been detected since land VTL launch

South Korean Embassy in Singapore has clarified that Singapore travellers entering South Korea under the VTL will not need to quarantine for 10 days, though unvaccinated children over age 6 still need to undergo the 10-days quarantine while those below 6 are exempted

Singapore-Malaysia land and air VTL travellers to Malaysia will be required to self-test for COVID-19 on days 3 and 7 upon arrival

Singapore deemed an “at risk” country by India amid concerns over the Omicron variant, requiring travellers from Singapore to undergo 7-days quarantine upon arrival from 1 Dec despite the recently started VTL

Around 170 passengers arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Jetstar’s first VTL flight from Singapore to Malaysia. Passengers reported delays and mix-ups during the on-arrival PCR testing process, with some having to wait for over an hour despite opting for the pricier test that promised one-hour results

Singapore-Malaysia land VTL aims to include general travellers from mid-Dec, while discussions started on sea VTL. Both countries’ leaders will discuss safe cruise standards and start talks on piloting a sea VTL that will allow Singapore cruises to call at Malaysian ports, and possible travels on the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal-Desaru, Johor route. Cross-border air travel between Singapore and Malaysian destinations like Penang, Langkawi, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu was also discussed

Many Singapore travellers are still keen to go ahead with travel plans despite reports of the Omicron variant, with airlines, travel agencies, and Singapore-Malaysia VTL bus companies reporting no cancellations or decrease in demand

Travellers to Australia’s New South Wales and Victoria states must self-isolate for 72 hours, even if they are arriving under the Australia-Singapore VTL scheme

Singapore Airlines has launched Flight Pass, which will allow customers to purchase discounted airfares for multiple flights in advance and decide on the travel dates later. The bundle of tickets can be shared, allowing travellers to pool and save on costs. Travel can be customised based on destinations, number of flights, travel period, and fare type. Flight Pass will be offered for flights between Singapore and France, Italy, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK, and will be progressively expanded

4,400 Singapore-Malaysia VTL bus tickets for the next 30 days have been booked, with users reporting issues in accessing the booking system due to high volume of traffic. 75% of all bookings are for rides from Singapore to Malaysia. Spokesman for the Malaysian bus services stated that the second batch of tickets is expected to be on sale 3 Dec. Tickets would be released 30 days ahead and must be booked 3 days before departure

Singaporeans still interested in booking and proceeding with Europe trips despite rising COVID-19 cases in Europe. The Travel Corporation reported a 204% increase in inquiries to VTL destinations, with more interest in countries such as Spain and Germany

VTL buses running two-way between Singapore-Malaysia will carry 1,440 passengers in each direction, totalling 2,880 travellers per day. There will be 64 daily trips, 32 in each direction, with a max of 45 passengers. Tickets from Singapore will cost $15 SGD for adults and $8 SGD for children, while buses from Malaysia will cost RM20 for adults and RM10 for children. Passengers must be citizens, permanent residents, or long-term pass holders of the country that they are entering, giving priorities to workers. Passengers must take a professionally administered antigen rapid test or PCR test within two days of departure, with those travelling to Malaysia also needing to take a supervised antigen test upon arrival

Singapore Airlines will operate non-VTL flights from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kolkata starting 29 Nov, while Scoot will operate non-VTL flights between Singapore-Hyderabad 4 times a week from 30 Nov and Singapore-Tiruchirappalli 3 times a week from 2 Dec

Singapore-Malaysia land VTL might include trains as the next step, while it will take “some time” before private vehicles are included. Daily land VTL quota will be reviewed weekly by both countries to see if there’s scope to increase capacity, with Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry stating that it is still not possible to revert back to the pre-pandemic condition where over 100,000 people travel across the Causeway each day. Monitoring of the infection situation will also be done to see scope for including non-citizens, non-PR, and non long-term pass holders in the VTL

Singapore’s COVID-19 certificates are now recognised to be equivalent to EU’s Digital COVID Certificate, easing travels between Singapore and the EU countries

Expedia teamed up with Raffles Medical Group to offer discounted pre-departure PCR tests for outbound travellers who book through Expedia Singapore

Costs for Singapore-Malaysia air VTL cause concerns for some travellers as flight ticket prices fluctuate, ranging from $100-$500 SGD across different airlines in Dec. In addition, COVID-19 tests are also costly, totaling at around $305-$600 SGD per person for a round-trip

Corporate travel management companies are seeing an increase in inquiries, searches, and bookings since the Singapore-Malaysia VTL announcement. ForwardKeys reported a 28-fold increase in tickets issued for flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. 80% of the issued tickets were return tickets while 20% were one-way

Singapore Airlines and Scoot see high demand for Singapore-KL flights, with some also sold out

Australia’s cautious opening a draw for Singapore travellers worried about high COVID-19 cases in Europe, experts say. Searches on Expedia for Singapore-Sydney flights increased by more than 70 %, while searches for Singapore-Melbourne flights increased by more than 50 %

Further details for the requirements for the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur air Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) entry to Malaysia has been revealed: • Travellers from Singapore do not need to apply to enter Malaysia • They must be fully vaccinated, and have stayed in Singapore or Malaysia consecutively for 14 days prior to departure • Travel insurance of RM100,000 for COVID-related medical treatment • RT-PCR test within 48 hours of departure, and on arrival to Kuala Lumpur, where they must take a test and wait until the test results are released • 6 daily flights operated by AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Scoot and Singapore Airlines

Jetstar Asia aims to relaunch flights between Singapore and Perth from 12 Feb, when the vaccinated travel lane is expected to start

Indonesia and Singapore continue discussions for bilateral vaccinated travel lane

Land border between Singapore and Malaysia could reopen in a few weeks. Discussions with Malaysia in progress

Tourists from Singapore arrive in South Korea under bilateral vaccinated travel lane

Vaccinated travel lane with South Korea starts on 15 Nov. Multiple PCR tests, application for visa-free entry, travel insurance, vaccination certificate and app required

Singapore travellers preparing for travel to South Korea. Dynasty Travel, for now, organising only customised private groups (4-8 pax) of family and friends. Received almost 100 inquiries since the travel lane was announced

Scoot to launch flights to London via Bangkok from 16 Dec. The journey, including transit time, expected to take about 16½ hours, with one-way tickets from $434

Singapore travellers to Denmark, with some exemptions e.g Danish citizens, to now serve 10 days quarantine (break isolation on day 4 upon negative PCR test)

Travel companies have seen a spike in flight bookings between Kuala Lumpur-Singapore, despite a lack of guidelines on the Vaccinated Travel Lane’s implementation. Traveloka recorded double digit growth in bookings, whilst Expedia recorded a 17X increase in search volumes

Vaccinated travel lane between Singapore and Malaysia to start on 29 Nov. There will be 6 designated flights, applications to start on 22 Nov

Singapore removed from EU list of countries for which travel curbs should be lifted. Travellers may face stricter border restrictions

ASA Holidays received “a fair bit of enquiries” for year-end departures to Australia. Dynasty Travel International has about 80 enquiries for year-end trips on record, most of them by couples and families. Costly swab tests, COVID-19 insurance and restrictions keep some travellers away

Based on a recent Tripadvisor survey, 72% of Singaporeans have started researching their year-end vacations, with 48% planning to go overseas. Most popular trip types chosen by Singaporeans were the beach (50%) and outdoors (47%). Most popular travel dates are 3 December, 24 December and 31 December with average trip spend S$ 1,014. Top 3 trending destinations are 1. London, 2. Seoul, 3. Paris

Dream Cruise to mark 1st anniversary of resuming cruise services with World Dream, on 6 Nov. Most sailings for the remaining months of 2021 almost sold out, while a strong momentum is registered for early-2022

Chan Brothers have launched their Australia tours, who will work closely with Tourism Australia

Chan Brothers Travel has announced a range of Down Under tours that cover cityscapes, natural wonders, and self-drive campervan trips, to coincide with the vaccinated travel lane with Australia. For examples, The 8-day Sydney Sea, Sun and Stargazing Fun With Farm Stay package starts from S$3188, and the 8-day Melbourne Food and Wine With Great Ocean Road package starts from S$3088

More than 71% Singaporeans are vacation deprived, according to survey. Tour companies offering travel packages and pre-trip planning will help with travel anxiety

Vaccinated Singaporeans will be able to travel to and from New South Wales and Victoria, in Australia, quarantine free from 21 Nov

Two-way quarantine-free travel between Singapore and Australia for tourists, business travellers and students. The scheme will start with New South Wales and Victoria from 21 Nov

Scoot offering one-way sales fares for flights from Singapore to Melbourne start from S$199, flights to Sydney start from S$219 (till 7 Nov) , and to Incheon International Airport starting from S$200 (till 8 Nov)

Singapore travellers can store their HealthCerts (e.g. COVID-19 vaccination) on Google Pay on their Android device

Changi Airport Group has launched its own digital wallet, Changi Pay. Currently accepted at close to 260 stores across Changi’s terminals and Jewel

Chan Brothers announced that it received 50 enquiries for Australis within hours of the Australian PM’s press conference on a possible agreement for fully vaccinated travellers between Singapore and Australia

Trip.com and Raffles Medical Group and partnered to provide pre-departure swabs and serology tests for outbound travellers, from 22 Oct. Customers will be able to schedule their tests at the time of flight booking

Dynasty Travel International host a 3-day (22 Oct to 24 Oct) by-appointment in-house and virtual travel fair to kick off the travel season. Dynasty confirming almost 100 pre-booked appointments at press time. Most customers aged between 40 and 55 years old and travelling with teenage children. Winter holiday packages to South Korea, as well as in-depth exploration of mono destinations in Europe up for grabs

Singapore Airlines Group saw 4.4% passenger traffic growth in Sep after launch of vaccinated travel lane. The group will serve 17 cities under its vaccinated travel lane network

The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) has noted no lack of enquiries for outbound travel, despite the higher costs

Singapore Airlines will fly 4 times a week to Vancouver, Canada and Seattle, United States from 2 Dec to 15 Feb 2022. Ticket sales will begin on 12 Oct

After the Prime Minister announced the easing of travel curbs and the opening of more vaccinated travel lanes, Singapore Airlines has seen a high demand in bookings from residents eager to travel

Travel restrictions will be eased (additional vaccinated travel lanes), and health processes simplified (home recovery and rapid testing) as Singapore stays the course on living with COVID-19, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. This “new normal” expected to be 3-6 months away

Travel agencies optimistic with the addition of 9 countries to the vaccinated travel lane scheme. TTC tours have gone up by 5-10%, Dynasty Travel packages may cost about 15-30% more

The demand for trips to South Korea expected to be higher than those to Germany due to the lower flight cost, according to Mr Ong, a director at EU Holidays

Singaporeans can now renew their passport for 10 years instead of 5. The ICA received 2,500 applications online on the first day, 4 times the average number of passports issued daily since January. According to some travel agencies this suggests a renewed interest in international travel

Finance Minister Lawrence Wong calls patience to those hoping for Singapore’s borders to reopen. Due to the current wave "Procedures, protocols have to be changed and adjusted, and new capacity has to be added into the system. All this takes a little bit of time and that's why we are putting in place these measures in the stabilisation phase so that we can get all these things ready."

The head of the Tourism Office-Riau Islands has said that the government is aiming for Bintan to be the first travel bubble destination with Singapore, with Lagoi ready to reopen to international tourists. It will first be limited to 100 pax, and should any visitor fall sick, a direct evacuation to Singapore will be arranged

Tripadvisor’s Seasonal Travel Index for Fall has shown that Singaporeans’ most popular destinations for international travel plans are New York City, London, Hong Kong and Dubai

ForwardKeys has reported that demand for travel from Singapore to Germany was 135% higher than that of Germany to Singapore, with tickets issued from Singapore to Germany at 93% of 2019 levels. They estimate that much of the travel from Singapore to Germany is leisure travel, with 76% leisure, 17% VFR and expats, 1% group and 6% business. The average stay length has increased from 13 days in 2019 to 15 days. Demand peaks for the December period

The first tour group travelling from Singapore to Germany under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) will leave on 22 Sep, operated by EU Holidays. It will be a small group tour of 6 pax, for 12 days, and the group will use a 40-seater bus. Chan Brothers is preparing its first group departure for 11 Oct, and Dynasty Travel has departures in Oct, Nov and Dec

The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore has stated that travel agents have received interest for travel packages to Germany, and they anticipate a “very gradual increase in the number of inquiries and bookings for all agents”

The Riau Island Tourism Office, Indonesia, has said that they are preparing an MoU to be sent to Singapore, allowing Singaporeans to visit Lagoi. A tracking system has already been set up for the area, as well as medical system

The Shizuoka Prefectural Government Representative Office in Singapore has launched a new virtual experience where Singaporeans can fly a drone remotely over Mt Fuji

Booking.com has released a survey, Back to Travel, which shows that: • 63% of Singaporeans have no plans to travel unless they are fully vaccinated • Top 5 searched destinations in 2021 include London, Dubai, Rome, Munich and Berlin

A Youtrip survey shows that: • 54% of Singaporean residents would be happy to travel as soon as restrictions were lifted • 40% of those are planning to visit Japan, Thailand and Malaysia • 85% are prepared to spend more on their next holiday

Expedia has seen a 10 times increase from Singaporeans looking to travel to Munich and Frankfurt since the announcement of the Vaccinated Travel Lane to Germany. Singapore Airlines has also reported that it has seen an increase in bookings. Chan Brothers has launched an 11-day tour to Germany, with reduced group size of 20 pax

Kuoni Tumlare noted an “immediate response” from incentive organisers in Singapore for trips to Germany, with 3/10 of the largest insurance companies in Singapore looking at trips for Q4 2021 or Q1 2022. MICE Matters also noted some corporate clients beginning to plan for Apr 2022 incentive programs, with destinations as diverse as Taiwan to New Zealand. They believe that MICE trips post-pandemic will be “more intimate and lavish”, with fewer free days, and companies will want to travel on direct flights