Singapore reimagines itself for the future of travel
As a key hub for business, events and tourism in Asia, Singapore is a modern metropolis and plays host to a multicultural diaspora. Its multi-cultural tapestry offers visitors a wide array of sightseeing and culinary options to choose from. Singapore’s tropical climate welcomes both leisure and business travelers year-round. The island state’s robust infrastructure enables visitors to enjoy its many sites and attractions in a safe, clean and green environment.
Singapore has been one of the most popular tourist destinations for the Indian traveler. India was the 3rd largest source market for Singapore, with over 1 million visitor arrivals logged for the fifth consecutive year in 2019.
Singapore has also been consistently named as one of the safest cities in the world to live in during the pandemic, ranking 11th on Bloomberg’s monthly Covid Resilience Ranking in July 2021. It has adopted a disciplined approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic - the city-state expects to have vaccinated around 80 per cent of its population completely by September, putting the country in a favourable position to resume travel.
Singapore authorities have said that restrictions shall be relaxed further if the situation remains under control, and will begin to progressively reopen its borders and allow vaccinated people to travel. It will start by setting up travel corridors with countries or regions that have managed COVID-19 well, and where the infection is under control. People vaccinated against COVID-19 will be given some concession when travelling to Singapore - this could mean a shortened stayhome notice when these travellers come into Singapore, or that the stay-home notice is waived entirely and replaced with COVID-19 tests. These guidelines, which are being finalised, will depend on the country visited and will take into account their risk profiles and infection rate.
To protect the health and safety of all visitors, Singapore has implemented rigorous standards of safe management and hygiene - Safe Management Measures (SMMs) such as capacity limits and ensuring safe distancing and good hygiene practices. These are in place everywhere, including at tourism establishments. To support this, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) launched the SG Clean national campaign to set high standards of environmental public hygiene and build confidence in our businesses. The SG Clean Quality Mark is a national mark of excellence awarded to companies that meet those standards. More than 31,000 individual premises have been certified as “SG Clean” across Singapore, including tourism-related premises.
On the MICE front, STB had pioneered the Safe Business Events Framework for the calibrated and safe resumption of B2B events. STB, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) recently partnered to launch a white paper titled “Reimagining Business Events – Through COVID-19 and Beyond”. Launched at the first hybrid Singapore MICE Forum x IBTM Wired at Marina Bay Sands on 28 June 2021, the white paper is the first such collaboration between a destination and leading associations representing the exhibitions, conventions and meetings industry. It takes stock of how various sectors within the industry have transformed in response to COVID-19 and consolidate ideas from around the world to help business event organisers rethink their offerings and operations.
Singapore has also used this time to reimagine tourism, refresh and launch new offerings that will delight visitors when they return. The Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC), a popular US-based attraction, is set to launch its first-ever international location outside of the US in Singapore, in August 2021. Other attractions which are up and coming include: The Slingshot – Asia’s tallest slingshot - a new thrill ride concept opening later this year at Clarke Quay, as well as SkyHelix Sentosa, Singapore’s first open-air panoramic attraction that allows visitors scenic views of Sentosa and our Southern Waterfront, slated to open in 2022.
The opening of such attractions adds vibrancy to the city and underscores the tourism industry’s confidence in Singapore’s continuing appeal as a top travel destination.