According to the latest findings by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Singapore is on track to surpass its all-time record for international arrivals in 2025, with the city-state experiencing robust growth driven by a surge in tourism from India, China, and regional resilience.
International arrivals to Singapore are projected to reach nearly 16 million in 2025, marking a 9.6% increase over pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This growth puts Singapore ahead of other major Southeast Asian destinations, including Thailand and the Philippines, which are also seeing impressive recoveries.
India, in particular, is fueling a major portion of this growth. The number of Indian visitors to Singapore is expected to rise from 1.11 million in 2019 to 1.25 million in 2025, marking the highest figures on record. Additionally, while outbound travel from China has seen a global slowdown, Singapore is set to welcome a record 2.8 million Chinese tourists in 2025, with projections indicating further growth in 2026.
In comparison, Thailand is poised for a 5% growth in international arrivals this year, while the Philippines is on track to come within striking distance of its pre-pandemic visitor numbers. Malaysia is also anticipating a near 10% increase in international visitors, surpassing its previous high from 2016.
Singapore’s Tourism Transformation
WTTC President & CEO, Julia Simpson, highlighted Singapore’s exceptional performance, noting, “Singapore is setting the pace for global tourism growth, breaking records, and outpacing its regional rivals. With soaring visitor numbers from India and a return of Chinese travellers, the city-state’s tourism engine is running at full throttle.”
She emphasized that Singapore’s tourism recovery represents more than just a rebound—it’s a transformation. “Singapore is leading in innovation and sustainability, and its Travel & Tourism sector is on course to be stronger than ever, driving jobs, growth, and economic prosperity for years to come,” Simpson added.
Economic Boost from Travel & Tourism
In 2024, Travel & Tourism is projected to inject $66.1 billion into Singapore’s economy, accounting for 9.8% of the country’s GDP and supporting a record 570,000 jobs. By the end of the decade, the sector is expected to contribute nearly $80 billion to the economy, a 19% increase over its previous high in 2019. Additionally, employment in Travel & Tourism is forecast to grow, with over 637,000 jobs supported by the sector by 2030.
Sustainability Initiatives and SAF Leadership
Singapore is also making strides in sustainability within the travel and tourism sector. From 2019 to 2023, Singapore reduced greenhouse gas emissions from Travel & Tourism by 4.1% per year, lowering the sector’s share of emissions from 23.5% to 18.4%. Despite being home to the world’s largest sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant, the use of low-carbon energy currently powers just under 2.5% of the sector’s energy needs. Singapore is set to implement a SAF mandate in 2026, requiring all departing flights to incorporate 1% SAF, while other major tourism economies such as the UK and Japan have set their SAF adoption targets at 10% by 2030.
Southeast Asia’s Regional Growth
The travel and tourism sector in Southeast Asia is also on a growth trajectory. In 2024, the sector is expected to generate nearly $379 billion USD, contributing 9.7% to the region’s GDP and supporting approximately 42.5 million jobs. By 2030, this figure is projected to rise to nearly $551 billion USD, representing a 48% increase over 2019. Employment in the sector is also set to rise significantly, with an expected 51.5 million jobs by 2030—an increase of over 10 million since 2019.
However, Southeast Asia’s Travel & Tourism sector has seen a decrease in its environmental footprint, with an annual decline of 7% from 2019 to 2023. Currently, low-carbon energy makes up just under 5.5% of the sector’s power supply. The WTTC has called on governments in the region to expedite their sustainability mandates and increase the use of low-carbon energy sources to help meet growing demand while reducing environmental impacts.
As tourism in Singapore and the broader Southeast Asia region continues to rise, the WTTC’s report emphasizes the vital role of sustainable practices and innovative solutions to ensure the sector’s future growth and success.
