Singapore sees results from efforts to rekindle tourism

The city-state is starting to see results from its efforts to reimagine its tourism industry following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Singapore.- After one of the toughest years on record, Singapore’s tourism sector has taken strides to reimagine its offerings and experiences while supporting nationwide efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Singapore’s visitor arrivals declined by 85.7 per cent year-on-year to 2.74m in 2020. However, the country received 24,010 visitors in December – the highest monthly tally since March, according to the tourism board’s latest data.

The majority of customers at Singapore’s two integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa, are usually non-Singaporeans. However, in July, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), EnterpriseSingapore and Sentosa Development Corp created SingapoRediscovers.

The project set aside almost US$34m to promote tourism among residents.

As a result, MBS generated an operating profit of US$144m in the final three months of 2020, an increase of 106 per cent from the prior quarter.

Both resorts reopened at 25 per cent capacity on July 1, 2020 after a more than three-month shutdown. Entry was restricted to annual levy holders or members of the Sands and Resorts World loyalty clubs.

Singapore currently has travel bubbles with six countries, including China.