Singapore

Agoda ranked the top 5 most-searched activities on its platform, Hong Kong Disneyland took the top spot, followed by Universal Studios Singapore and Gardens by the Bay, Singapore; Aquaria KLCC, Malaysia; and Tokyo Skytree, Japan

The Singapore Cruise Centre will relocate to 5 HarbourFront Avenue (70m away from the existing terminal) from 15 Jul with immediate effect, whilst the HarbourFront Centre shopping mall will stop operations from 27 Jul. Batam Fast Ferry will be the first operator to start from the new terminal on 7 Jul, and all other operators will follow from 15 Jul

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the MoU signing between the US and Iran to cease all military operations in the Middle East and establish a framework to negotiate outstanding issues in 60 days

Mastercard and CrescentRating released the 11th edition of the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026. The report shows 80% of travellers are now using AI tools for travel, highlighting the need of Muslim-fiendly services to be available digitally to make them visible. GMTI 2026 evaluates 150 destinations, representing 98% of global Muslim visitor arrivals, within the ACES framework: Access, Communications, Environment and Services. GMTI 2026 also found that the travellers are adjusting their itineraries to regional destinations, instead of long-haul routes through complex transit hubs, to avoid cancelling their plans. Southeast Asia has become a leading destination for 2026 for Asian Muslim travellers for its proximity, air connectivity, and halal ecosystem. Mindanao, the Philippines, was recognised as the Most Promising Muslim-friendly Region (Non-OIC) and Jawa Barat, Indonesia, is the Most Promising Muslim-friendly Region (OIC). Asia records nearly 128 million Muslim arrivals, and a 20.8% market penetration. Malaysia retained its position as the Top Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year for the 11th consecutive year, with a score of 83, followed by Indonesia, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia at second place with 79 points. Among non-OIC destinations, Singapore ranked 1st for non-OIC destinations, and 10th globally with 73 points, and Thailand and the Philippines also showed momentum

Singapore welcomed 7 million visitors from Jan-May 2026, -1.2% YoY, based on Singapore Tourism Board (STB) data, including 5.1 million overnight visitors, -2.2% YoY. This represents 40% of STB’s 2026 target of 17-18 million visitor arrivals. The average length of stay dropped to 3.41 days, -2.3% YoY, and visitor days dropped to 23.87 million, -3.5%. In May 2026, only 1.24 million visitor arrivals were recorded, -9.7% YoY, lower than 1.33 million in Apr 2026 and 1.43 million in Mar 2026. The top markets in May 2026 were China with 204,640 arrivals (-15.6% YoY), Indonesia with 170,130 (-14% YoY), India with 144,010, Malaysia with 111,910, and Australia with 83,510. Overall, the top markets from Jan-May 2026 were China with 1.34 million arrivals, Indonesia (966,170), Malaysia (549,900), Australia (510,530), and India (498,110). Those aged 25-34 and 35-44 accounted for 1.44 million and 1.45 million arrivals, respectively. 79.4% of the visitors arrived via air in Jan-May, followed by 10.5% via land, and 10.1% via sea

ComfortDelGro (CDG) will offer free driverless shuttle rides for Punggol residents from 22 Jun 2026. CDG and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said this will be offered daily, with services on Mondays and Fridays reserved for groups, families, and those who need assistance. CDG has yet to set a fare for the service. Grab’s AV shuttle, which launched on 1 Apr 2026, recorded 5,000 passengers and over 60,000km of AV driving mileage as of 12 Jun 2026

The construction of Singapore’s first wellness attraction in Marina South, Therme Singapore, will begin in Q3 2026. The 7-storey facility is expected to open in 2030. It will house more than 20 pools and water features and over 70 wellness treatment rooms. The developer states they want to make the facility accessible to everyone during the groundbreaking ceremony

Singapore announced there will be 11 public holidays with 5 long weekends in 2027

Singapore launched the Towards Resource Efficiency And Sustainability for Urban Environments (TREASURES) centre to study waste management and transform Semakau Landfill, which is slated to reach its full capacity by 2035. The Centre is established by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). TREASURES will look into opportunities to recover resources from Semakau Landfill, as well as develop technologies and standards to repurpose these materials for other uses. $35 million SGD has been allocated for the centre from the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan and NTU will host the institute for the centre from 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Mar 2030. Singapore also announced plans to review Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan for 2030, which is targeting to increase the overall recycling rate to 70% and reduce waste per person to Semakau Landfill by 30%

Singapore Air Force Museum, located beside Paya Lebar Air Base, reopened on 16 Jun after being closed for renovation since Nov. The museum now features immersive technology and augmented reality experiences, as well as an expanded collection of artefacts showcasing the Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) development

Singapore will push for regional AI adoption and cross-border data flow when the country assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027. The Minister for Digital Development and Information said Singapore will encourage better AI adoption among SMEs across ASEAN

The International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report highlighting key risks for Southeast Asia, which could lose billions of dollars if the region failed to diversify its sources of energy quickly. The agency stated that an overreliance on oil and gas, which are transported through the Strait of Hormuz, has made Southeast Asia vulnerable to shocks from the Middle East crisis. Following the crisis, there is an increase in electric vehicle sales, a renewed interest in nuclear power, and an increase in rooftop solar and other renewable energy installations. The report also warns that Southeast Asia’s energy import bill could increase to $245 billion USD by 2035, 3X of $80 billion USD in 2024, if reforms are not made. IEA states Southeast Asia needs to reduce its overall demand for imported fossil fuels

Batam Fast Ferry will shift its operations from the new Singapore Cruise Centre (HarbourFront) on 7 Jul 2026, followed by other operators from 15 Jul 2026. The Singapore Cruise Centre said there won’t be any changes to ferry routes

The Manpower Ministry (MOM) reported retrenchment has increased to 3,830 in Q1 2026, vs 3,690 in Q4 2025. The total employment grew by 9,400 in Q1 2026, vs 17,700 in Q4 2025. Unemployment rate reached 2% overall in Mar 2026, 2.9% for residents and 3.1% for citizens. The Manpower Minister said that Artificial Intelligence is changing how people work, and so far “it's actually helping to reshape jobs more than replace them". Data from Apr 2026 shows 6.2% of firms which are implementing or piloting AI usage have reduced their headcount, and 8.5% are reporting lower hiring. 18.9% of companies are redesigning job functions after adopting AI, and 28.5% of Singaporean companies have adopted AI

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has launched new business events initiatives and announced a S$700 million capital injection during the 8th Greater China MICE Conference in Xinjiang, targeting high-value Chinese corporate events and trade delegates. Singapore also launched the inaugural Singapore Attendance Building Consultants (SgABC) Program. STB appointed five Chinese MICE intermediaries, Beijing Capital Group Exhibitions & Events, China International Exhibition Centre Group, China National Machinery Industry International, Huiyuan Culture Development Group, and Shanghai International Exhibition (Group) Co. as pilot channel partners. These companies will leverage their domestic networks in the energy, healthcare, tech-manufacturing, logistics, and retail sectors. STB also signed a three-year MoU with the Sino-Commercial Overseas Industrial Alliance (SCOIA) to establish its Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore. In addition, STB named five Chinese travel agencies, including Bravolinks and Shanghai Airlines Tours, as preferred partners for destination training and fam trips

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has suspended travel agency Vacanza Global Travel for its failure to meet the licensing requirement of maintaining a net value of at least $100,000 SGD at all times. The suspension was issued on 15 Jun, and will remain for six months or until the company submits proof that it has a net value of at least $100,000 SGD. If they failed the requirements by the end of its suspension, STB may revoke the company’s license

The Flower Market installation by Australian artist Cj Hendry was extended until 15 Jun 2026 following an overwhelming demand. The entry for the event is free, and each person is entitled to one free plush flower stalk

Data from Travelex Japan during the Golden Week period shows that sales of the Singapore dollar among Japanese travellers increased by 23.6%, followed by the Vietnamese dong at 19.9%, Thai baht at 18.2%, and South Korean won at 13.4%. However, sales of the Chinese yuan fell by 32.9%, in line with a 56.8% year-on-year decline in outbound travel to China, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, amid tensions between the two countries

The National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new nature immersion trail at Saraca Stream near Tanglin Gate on 11 Jun, covering natural elements and a multi-sensory journey. The US-based Association of Nature and Forest Therapy has certified the 150m-long trail in 2026

The Global Wellness Institute has reported that Singapore’s wellness economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2%, exceeding the global average of 7.9%, with wellness spending per capita at $3,845 USD, 8X the Asian average

Malaysia is considering a special lane at the immigration checkpoint at the Johor-Singapore border for Johor voters in the upcoming Johor poll. The Home Minister stated that the ministry and the Immigration Department will take appropriate steps once the Election Commission (EC) announces the dates for the poll. Johor State Assembly was dissolved on 1 Jun, and a snap election must be held within the next 60 days by 31 Jul

Chinatown Singapore will host the Happy Dragon Boat Festival on 13 Jun 2026. In conjunction with the school holidays, Chinatown will offer a series of programmes, including the Draw Your Chinatown Children's Art Competition from 27–28 Jun, inviting young visitors to explore Smith Street and Pagoda Street, and the Chinatown Stamp Rally, which encourages visitors to collect stamps while exploring the area

The Police received at least 62 scam reports involving BTS concert tickets since 1 Jun, with losses worth at least $68,200. The victims came across offers for the concert ticket sales on social media platforms and the online marketplace, Carousell. All tickets for the Singapore shows have been sold out, with Klook exhausting its allocation on 6 Jun. The Police have reminded the fans that only concert tickets from authorised platforms such as Ticketmaster are valid, and the tickets cannot be resold. The Police have reached out to Carousell and X, a social media platform, to take down listings related to concert ticket resale

Singapore's President is on his state visit to Tanzania and stated Singapore will negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with a bloc of 8 East African countries (EAC). The countries in EAC are Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. Tanzania President has invited Singapore to set up an embassy in Tanzania

Grab has rolled out its Grab Full House Mission to help F&B SMEs increase their visibility among diners. Grab’s Managing Director said 84% of Singapore-based users discovered new restaurants or stores through the Grab app, while 61% of users open the Grab app without deciding on what to order. Under this initiative, Grab will feature popular F&B outlets and iconic food venues, such as Tanjong Pagar, Holland Village, and Jalan Besar, on Grab’s Dine Out campaigns. This program is developed in partnership with Enterprise Singapore to increase footfall and visibility for the merchants in selected precincts. The first campaign in Tanjong Pagar will run from 26 May to 25 Jul 2026, followed by Holland Village and Jalan Besar later in 2026. Grab will work with EnterpriseSG and SkillsFuture Singapore for the next 3 years to offer 4 workshops and masterclasses. Grab will provide industry insights twice a year on consumer trends, practical ways to use AI, and digital marketing

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has introduced a guided tour of Sultan Shoal Lighthouse, the 4th-oldest lighthouse in Singapore. The 3-hour guided tour will begin from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal and include a visit to the lighthouse

Singapore is looking to ease regulations to allow the development of hotels in heritage precincts at Boat Quay and Beach Road, near the Singapore River, according to the Minister for National Development. He said the move follows feedback from the industry and aims to provide greater flexibility for developers and business owners to offer more diverse experiences for visitors. He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of i Light Singapore in the Marina Bay district and added that Singapore is looking to introduce more experiential lighting installations across the city

Gardens by the Bay is hosting its signature school holiday program, Children’s Festival, until 21 Jun featuring Winnie the Pooh concept

The first wave and second wave of tickets for BTS’ Arirang tour in Singapore have sold out, each sold out on the same day

The i Light Festival will take place from 5-28 Jun, with 14 installations, under a theme of “Movement”. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will revise its guidelines for night lighting, and will work to create “more dynamic and experiential” lighting across Marina Bay

Restrictions on new hotels, backpacker hostels and serviced apartments will be lifted in the Upper Circle Road area, as well as at Beach Roach, to provide more flexibility and enhance the attractiveness of their precincts. Singapore is also looking at piloting regulatory sandboxes to allow more unique events, activities and uses that “reflect the distinct character and needs of their respective areas"

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced the Land Transport Authority have designated a new bus lane along Woodlands Road towards Woodlands Checkpoint, to improve traffic flow for bus users travelling towards Woodland Checkpoint

Skypark Sentosa has introduced a new attraction called Skyslides by Klook on 7 Jun. This will be Southeast Asia’s tallest dry slides, at 44 metres. This new attraction mark the relaunch of Skypark Sentosa, in partnership between operator ZJ Adventures and travel and experiences platform Klook

CapitaLand Ascott Trust will sell its Singapore hotel, the Robertson House by The Crest Collection, to a third party for $360 million SGD, 4% above book value and an exit yield of 2.3%. CapitaLand is expected to gain $341.7 million SGD in net proceeds and $38.1 million SGD in a net gain. The transaction will be completed in Q3 2026

Klook will offer Klook Experience Packages from 5 Jun, which combine BTS concert tickets in Dec with attractions and accommodation. Klook will offer three packages, including Bird Paradise and Night Safari at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa, and a bundle combining Adventure Cove Waterpark with a stay at Hotel Michael. Klook will partner with the Singapore Tourism Board and HYBE for these packages. BTS is set to perform on 17, 19, 20, and 22 Dec, its longest run outside South Korea and Japan

Singapore residents’ life expectancy increased to 83.9 years in 2025, +0.2 years YoY based on the Department of Statistics data, vs 82.9 years in 2015

UnionPay International and Singapore Tourism Board have renewed their strategic partnership to promote tourism and enhance visitor payment experience, especially Chinese travellers. The collaboration will focus on premium travel and MICE segments

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) signed an MoU with Amap, Alibaba’s location-based services platform, to develop Singapore Street Stars, an AI-powered destination ranking that helps Chinese travellers explore Singapore. The platform will cover eight categories, including must-visit attractions, must-stay hotels, must-try restaurants, and must-shop destinations, using real user behaviour data. Amap and STB will also pilot Amap Flying Street View, a 3D virtual imaging feature showcasing landmarks such as Sentosa Island, Universal Studios Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Zoo, and Jewel Changi Airport

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Universal Music Singapore (UMSG) signed an MoU to promote Singapore through UMSG’s network of international artistes, market insights, and global media channels to a global audience. UMSG will highlight Singapore via integrated marketing campaigns, fan activations, and travel partner collaborations

Aeroline, a coach operator that runs services between Singapore-Kuala Lumpur, announced it will stop its services to Kuala Lumpur due to operational challenges and rising costs. The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) barred Aeroline from operating at the TRX shopping centre from 27 May, from where it had been operating since relocating from Corus KLCC. Aeroline is only licensed to operate from 1 Utama, LaLaport, and IOI City Malls. Aeroline stated that relocating to these terminals will increase its operating costs and make it difficult to maintain the premium travel experience. APAD responded that Aeroline did not make an application to use the TRX mall as an operation hub, and the mall is not a licensed bus terminal

Singapore hosted the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue from 29-31 May at the Shangri-La Hotel. The Vietnamese President delivered his keynote speech on 29 May, and the Timor-Leste President gave his special address on 30 May. 54 ministerial-level delegates from 44 countries took part in the event

Malaysian immigration checkpoints suffered a 5-hour system crash on 29 May, including at the Johor-Singapore land border, affecting immigration clearance. Immigration officers processed both Malaysian and foreign travellers manually. Long queues were reported at land checkpoints in Johor, during the peak period where Malaysians travelled to Singapore for work

Rainforest Wild Adventure East within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve was officially opened on 29 May as the second phase of the attractions, and will feature animals from Africa

The National Environment Agency and Meteorological Service Singapore warned of warmer and drier conditions in the coming months due to El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole. Singapore also faces an elevated haze risk from Jun to Oct, with temperatures potentially remaining above normal from Mar to May 2027. The agencies noted that when both phenomena occurred simultaneously in 2015, they contributed to one of the region’s worst haze episodes, with rainfall from Jun to Sep falling more than 35% below the long-term average

The Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) data shows that nominal wages of full-time resident employees recorded a slow-paced YoY growth in 2025. Total wages, which include basic pay, annual variable components and employer contributions to the Central Provident Fund (CPF), recorded 4.9% growth in 2025, vs 5.6% in 2024. The slower growth was due to easing inflation as in 2025 headline inflation averaged 0.9% vs 2.4% in 2024, while inflation is projected to increase in 2026

The Singapore Tourism Board announced that Princess Cruises will add more trips as part of their 3-year collaboration. Singapore is expected to welcome over 150,000 passengers through this partnership. Princess Cruises will make Singapore a seasonal home port for Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess. The cruise will offer extended itineraries of 10-28 days covering Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, as well as trips between Singapore and Japan. Princess Cruises and STB expect a boost in the fly-cruise segment, especially from mid- to long-haul markets such as Australia, the UK and the US

Tourism Malaysia and Singapore Airlines signed an MoU to boost tourism in both Malaysia and Singapore. Through this collaboration, Malaysia is aiming to position itself as a preferred destination of Europe, Australia and the Asia Pacific region, leveraging Singapore Airlines’ network. Tourism Malaysia Director-General said this collaboration will increase visibility, connectivity, and drive quality tourist arrivals through joint campaigns

JLL reported that luxury hotel transaction volumes in the Asia-Pacific region increased by 77% between 2017 and 2025, reaching approximately $2.1 billion USD in 2025. This was the highest annual investment deployment since 2019 with $2.4 billion USD. Almost 20% of all hotel deals in 2025 were luxury hotel transactions, 2X of 8% share recorded in 2017 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels of 16%

Singapore’s core inflation eased to 1.4% in Apr 2026, despite the global energy supply disruptions continuing, which could increase the cost of imported goods. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced the Consumer Price Index-All Items remained at 1.8% in Apr 2026, as in Mar 2026 the lower core inflation offset the higher private transport and accommodation inflation. Core prices excluding non-consumption expenditures dropped by 0.3% in Apr 2026. Accommodation inflation increased from 0.3% in Mar 2026 to 0.4% in Apr 2026, due to an increase in housing rents. Services inflation dropped from 2.1% to 1.5%

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will maintain its 2026 economic growth forecast at 2%-4% due to a better-than-expected performance in Q1 2026. MTI stated that the downside risks to Singapore's economic outlook have increased significantly, and they will continue to monitor the developments more closely and adjust the GDP growth. Q1 2026 GDP growth recorded 1% growth on a QoQ basis, slowing from 1.3% growth in Q4 2025

Singapore Tourism Board supports the country’s first cocktail and lifestyle festival, Singapore Cocktail Crossover (SGCX) from 9-14 Jun featuring 15 internationally acclaimed bars from 8 countries. The event will cover Bugis, Tanjong Pagar, Amoy Street, and Robertson Quay. There will be a 2-day festival weekend at METT Singapore in Fort Canning on 13-14 Jun. The inaugural SGCX Bar Awards will be launched during this event

Cvent’s 2026 Top Meeting Destinations and Top Meeting Hotels ranked Singapore the Top Meeting Destination in Asia Pacific for 2026 for the 8th time since 2016, followed by Bangkok, Sydney, Tokyo, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Bali, Shanghai, and Beijing. The list ranked Hilton Singapore Orchard in top spot in the Asia Pacific region, followed by Conrad Singapore Marina Bay at 7th and voco Orchard Singapore at 9th place. Cvent data shows nearly 74% of corporate planners reported up to a 20% increase for in-person meetings

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) advised travellers to plan their journeys early and consider travelling during non-peak hours for the Hari Raya Haji and Vesak Day holidays on 27 and 31 May, respectively, as well as the additional public holiday on 1 Jun and the school holidays from 30 May to 28 Jun. ICA has also increased security checks at all checkpoints following the Middle East conflict. ICA reported over 2 million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints over the Labour Day long weekend from 30 Apr to 3 May, with a peak of 580,000 travellers on 30 Apr

Ticket applications for National Day Parade (NDP) 2026 at the National Stadium will start on 23 May. All Singapore citizens and permanent residents can apply for 2, 4 or 6 tickets for either two NDP previews on 25 Jul and 1 Aug, or the NDP on 9 Aug

Traveloka data shows China recorded 40% more bookings compared to Japan and 130% more bookings than South Korea from Singapore travellers for the Jun 2026 school holiday period. China is Singaporeans' preferred mid-to long-haul destination for the Jun school holidays for the second year in a row. China is the most booked destination on Traveloka globally, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia. The popular destinations are Hangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, with an average stay of 3 to 5 days from Mar to Apr 2026, vs 1-3 nights earlier in the year. Regions that recorded the highest growth are: Urumqi, +40% YoY due to the popularity of Xinjiang Harbin, +16% YoY during the winter season for the Ice and Snow Festival Kunming, popular among family and group travellers, also serves as an entry point to Yunnan, including Lijiang, Dali, and Shangri-La

Ticket sales for BTS’ concert in Singapore on 17, 19, 20 and 22 Dec will go on sale from 3 Jun