Singapore

Trip.com reported that outbound travel from Singapore over the Eid al-Fitr period increased +33% YoY. Most popular destinations were short and medium-haul, including Shanghai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Bali, Hong Kong and Penang. Medium-haul flights were 70% of bookings, short-haul 24% and long-haul 6%.

Cruise operators StarCruises and Dream Cruises announced they will apply a surcharge of $15 SGD per person per night due to the increase in fuel costs due to the conflict in the Middle East. The surcharge will apply for Genting Dream sailing from Singapore and neighbouring home ports, and to Star Voyager sailing from Singapore and Port Klang, Malaysia

The Malaysian ringgit has strengthened against the SGD to its highest level in 5 years. The ringgit traded at RM3.0615 against the SGD on 18 Mar. Malaysia’s status as a net energy exporter helped the country to shield the ringgit from global market volatility

Ferry operators, cross-border bus services, and travel agencies in Singapore reported that they are affected by rising fuel prices following the conflict in the Middle East. They also warned that the coming weeks will be critical for the travel industry due to the high season of the Mar school holidays and the Eid al-Fitr festive period. Ferry operators cut services by up to 40% to manage rising fuel costs. Operators have imposed a $6 USD fuel surcharge from 12 Mar. Batam Fast cancelled two trips per day over the past week due to low passenger numbers, and their fuel costs have increased by 3X since the conflict began. They are working with Sindo Ferry to fill as many seats as possible on each trip to parts of Batam, like the Gold Coast. YachtCruiseSG said it costs $800 SGD to refuel a vessel, 45% higher compared to $550 SGD before the conflict. Marina South Ferries is planning to increase fares by 20%-30%

Cross-border bus service operators between Singapore and Malaysia are saying they will consolidate bus trips after the Eid al-Fitr period by reducing departure timings and optimising routes to keep ticket prices stable. Cityline Global said diesel costs increased by 30% since the conflict started. Petrol stations in Malaysia are restricting diesel purchases to 20 litres per vehicle, a drop from 150 litres previously

Some travel agencies are facing tour cancellations or postponements to Europe, as travellers are reluctant to shift their bookings to a later date in Apr. Fewer flights are going through the Middle East to Europe due to airspace closures. Super Travels is expecting to pay $270,000 SGD in cancellation costs. Around 90 of the agency’s customers postponed their European trips during the Mar school holidays. The Vice President of Super Travels said they are looking to get a refund from the airlines to mitigate some losses. Flights to Amsterdam through Shanghai or India cost double compared to flights in Feb. Travellers are choosing destinations like China and Taiwan, but due to an increase in demand, airfares to these places have increased. EU Holidays said flights to China are now 20% more expensive compared to 2025, due to high fuel prices and an increase in travel demand. The company is seeing an increase in tourists going to Asia or China, and is offering more experiential itineraries to allow them to have different experiences compared to generic itineraries

Over 52,000 flights were reportedly cancelled since 28 Feb, according to Cirium, especially flights transiting through the Middle East hub. Lightfoot Travel said new bookings for Asia increased by 35% for its global clients in early Feb and Mar. Bookings from Singapore-based clients dropped by 25% in the first and second weeks of Mar, but the enquiries only dropped by 2.5% YoY in Mar. Popular destinations for Singaporeans are Japan, China, Indonesia, and Thailand. Skyscanner shows that Singaporeans are looking for destinations like Tokyo, Bangkok, Seoul, Bali, and Kuala Lumpur. Managing Director of Lightfoot Travel said lessons from the pandemic helped the travellers to remain composed in troubled times. She added that, “We observed that many travellers were holding off on decision-making until more news had unfolded, and then they would press ahead with trips. So, while there was a pause on the decisions to commit money to travel, interest and demand were still there.” Due to conflict, non-stop flights to major European hubs like London, Paris, and Frankfurt from Southeast Asia will become up to 3 hours longer to avoid Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf states' airspace. But she said their clients are booking long-haul flights from Singapore to South Africa and Latin America as it avoids the Middle East conflict. The CEO of Michi and Co, a travel agency, is expecting more Singaporeans to visit Japan in the coming months. She added that the trend to travel beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka could speed up. Regional Security Director at health and security risk services company International SOS expects leisure travel demand to remain resilient

The 63rd edition of the NATAS Travel Fair will be held from 27-29 Mar, featuring over 70 exhibitors at Singapore Expo Halls 4 & 5. Malaysia Airlines will serve as the Official Airline Partner for NATAS Travel 2026. Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism will join for the first time

Agoda reported a 55% MoM increase in accommodation searches from visitors in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore from 20-23 Mar, in conjunction with Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr). Popular destinations are Bali, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Kuala Lumpur, and Tokyo. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand see a strong interest, while demand is increasing for Japan and China as well. China is among the top 5 destinations for travellers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore with a 7% YoY increase

Agoda reported a 55% MoM increase in accommodation searches from visitors in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore from 20-23 Mar, in conjunction with Eid al-Fitr. Popular destinations are Bali, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Kuala Lumpur, and Tokyo. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand see a strong interest, while demand is increasing for Japan and China as well. China is among the top 5 destinations for travellers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore with a 7% YoY increase

Horizon Fast Ferry, Majestic Fast Ferry, and Batam Fast announced a $6 SGD fuel surcharge for Batam-bound ferries from Singapore from 12 Mar. Horizon Fast Ferry said this measure is necessary to “offset rising operational costs while ensuring a safe, reliable, and efficient service”. Batam Fast will apply a $12 SGD and a $6 SGD surcharge, respectively, for ferry rides to Desaru Coast and Pengelih, Malaysia. The International Energy Agency announced its members will unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves. Brent crude increased by 9.3% to $100.50 USD on 12 Mar, while West Texas Intermediate increased by 8.8% to $94.92 USD

Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) will take part in the NATAS Travel Fair from 27-29 Mar. 1.35 million Singaporeans visited Taiwan between 2023 and 2025

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs announced it will operate repatriation flights from Muscat, Oman, on 7 Mar to evacuate citizens following escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Muscat flights will help Singaporeans who are in Oman and the UAE, where 60% of e-registered Singaporeans are located. Following a high-demand, a second flight was arranged for 8 Mar. The passengers will be picked up from the Singapore Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Millennium Airport Hotel in Dubai

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and its overseas missions in the Middle East are conducting a survey to identify Singaporeans’ interest in returning to Singapore, following the ongoing airport closures and flight cancellations in the region. MFA said this survey is only to assess interest in assisted departure and is not a confirmation to start the evacuation operations. MFA is considering routes such as Dubai to Muscat (7-9 hours), Abu Dhabi to Muscat (8 to 10 hours), Doha to Riyadh or Jeddah (7 hours to Riyadh, 17 hours to Jeddah), and Amman to Jeddah (15 hours). Singaporeans who choose to leave would be responsible for the related costs, including air tickets, land transport, travel documentation, visas, and temporary accommodation. Singaporeans in the region are encouraged to eRegister their presence with the MFA to receive updates on any organised operations. The Singapore Embassy in Riyadh is exploring the possibility to facilitate evacuation from Bahrain via land transportation

EU Holidays is preparing to refund travellers, including 20 passengers who were set to leave for Egypt on 3 Mar. The agency was planning to send 750 Singaporeans in 30 tour groups on holiday to mainly Europe destinations in Mar. The Director of EU Holidays is trying to get refunds from airlines, hotels, and land operators. He said they want to offer a full refund to their customers, to make sure they are well taken care of. The agency’s 3 tour groups of 25 customers are stranded in Dubai, Buenos Aires and Chile. They are working to ensure they will have a place to stay and a way to return as soon as possible. Super Travels is helping about 180 customers with bookings over the next two weeks, and they are offering the customers the option to cancel their trips with charges, postpone their holidays, or switch to a different destination. The agency has issued an advisory for tours scheduled to depart on Emirates or Qatar Airways before 15 Mar, including waiving administrative fees for those who want to postpone or switch destination to another region

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 1 Mar issued an advisory to all Singaporeans to defer travel to the Middle East following the conflict in Iran. Singapore updated travel advisories to Iran, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Territories, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) advised Singaporeans to leave Iran while there are flights available following an increase in regional tensions and recent public demonstrations in Iran