Singapore sees 5% rise in tourist arrivals in October, boosted by major events

SINGAPORE: Singapore drew 1.4 million international visitors last month, a 5% increase from a year ago, according to new figures from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The rise came on the back of a packed events calendar in October. The Formula One Singapore Night Race, the World Amateur Golf Championship, and Singapore International Energy Week were among the major events that helped pull in more travellers.

South Korea stood out as the fastest-growing market. About 51,000 South Koreans visited Singapore in October, a 21% jump from last year. The surge was driven largely by a run of long weekends and public holidays that made overseas travel more appealing.

From January to October, Singapore received 14.3 million international visitors, up 3% year-on-year.

China, Indonesia, and Malaysia remained Singapore’s top three source markets. Chinese tourists continued to form the largest share at 2.7 million, followed by 2 million visitors from Indonesia and 1 million from Malaysia.