Singapore Sees Surge in Chinese Tourists During Golden Week Holidays
Singapore has witnessed a significant increase in Chinese tourists during the Golden Week holidays, which took place from October 1 to 7. Local tour operators and travel platforms have reported a surge in demand from mainland Chinese travelers, with some experiencing a doubling of bookings.
The Straits Times spoke to Chinese tourists at Merlion Park on October 1, who cited Singapore’s food, language familiarity, and short flight distance as reasons for choosing the city-state as their holiday destination. Others were drawn to Singapore’s reputation as a “garden city” and sought a change of scenery from their home cities.
This influx of tourists is a welcome development for Singapore’s tourism industry, which has rebounded strongly since the pandemic. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) forecasted that between 15 and 16 million international tourists will visit Singapore in 2024. Since the start of the year, Singapore has seen almost 1.9 million mainland Chinese tourists, reaching about 85% of pre-pandemic levels.
In August alone, over 403,000 Chinese tourists visited Singapore, surpassing the combined total of the next three countries (Indonesia, India, and Australia). The surge in Chinese tourists is attributed to the mutual 30-day visa-free arrangement between Singapore and China, which came into effect on February 9, 2024.
Travel platform Klook reported a near-doubling of Chinese tourists booking services like tours and attractions between June and August, compared to the previous three months. Tour agency Chan Brothers Travel also experienced a significant surge in inquiries and bookings since the visa-free arrangement took effect.
In preparation for the influx of tourists, the National University of Singapore (NUS) restricted visitors from food courts and bus shuttle services from September 30 to October 7. This move comes after students voiced concerns about the impact of campus tourism, including tourists attempting to board buses despite signs indicating they were not allowed to do so.