Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced that visitor arrivals from India have surged past the one million mark, two months earlier than in 2023. This milestone was achieved when Singapore Airlines flight SQ-421 from Mumbai touched down at Changi Airport on 31 October, bringing in Singapore’s millionth Indian visitor for 2024. With a 12% increase in Indian visitors from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, India is Singapore’s third-largest source market for tourism.

Markus Tan, Regional Director of STB for India, Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, commented on this significant milestone:  “Welcoming our one millionth Indian visitor two months earlier than in 2023 demonstrates Singapore’s enduring appeal as a premier short-haul destination for Indian travellers. This milestone not only reflects our strong tourism recovery but also highlights the continued importance of the metros as source markets. Beyond the metros, STB is also expanding our reach and appeal of Singapore across diverse regions of India, using targeted marketing efforts and initiatives with the travel trade. We remain steadfast in our commitment to offering novel and engaging experiences that resonate with the aspirations of our Indian guests, ensuring that Singapore continues to be a destination of choice for years to come.”

Singapore’s appeal to Indian travellers has been bolstered by strong connectivity and its diverse range of experiences catering to different visitor segments. In India, STB has partnered with popular Indian brands and launched various marketing initiatives to elevate Singapore’s appeal. Earlier this year, STB signed a two-year MOU with PhonePe for seamless UPI transactions and a strategic partnership with MakeMyTrip to tailor unique travel packages. An exclusive Vlog travel series featuring actress Ananya Panday was also launched to showcase Singapore’s hidden gems.

Commenting on the occasion, Sy Yen Chen, General Manager India, Singapore Airlines shared: “Singapore Airlines is thrilled to have flown the millionth passenger from India to Singapore this year, an exciting milestone in connecting Indian travellers to our home country. India remains a key market for Singapore Airlines, and we’re proud that our world-class service continues to make us one of the preferred airlines for Indian travellers. Together with our longstanding partner, the Singapore Tourism Board, we’re excited to continue offering fresh, exciting experiences for both new and returning travellers, and to building even stronger ties between India and Singapore in the years ahead.”

Chew Tiong Heng, Divisional Director, Business & Experience Development, Sentosa Development Corporation shared:  “India has consistently been Sentosa’s leading source market, and we take great pride in remaining as a compelling and attractive destination for Indian travellers. We are especially delighted by the notable increase in Indian travellers in October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, which reaffirms Sentosa and Singapore’s enduring appeal. The recent launch of Sensoryscape, our multi-sensorial playground, marked the start of a series of transformations that Sentosa is undergoing.  Visitors can expect to see more world-class attractions and leisure offerings moving forward, including the upcoming Singapore Oceanarium, as well as innovative collaborations with industry partners, exemplified by our recent MOU with STIC Travel Group, to enhance Sentosa’s standing in the Indian market across traveller demographics”.

Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Business Officer – Corporate, MakeMyTrip said: “Singapore continues to captivate Indian travellers, ranking as the 4th most searched destination on our platform. Searches for Singapore have grown by 11% year-on-year, highlighting a strong affinity for this dynamic destination. Reaching the 1 million visitor milestone is a remarkable achievement, and we’re proud to play a role in this journey. At MakeMyTrip, we remain committed to delivering enriching travel experiences for Indians and look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board to drive further growth.”

Li Hongyi, Associate General Manager Market Development, Changi Airport Group said:  “India is Changi Airport’s sixth largest market in terms of passenger traffic and a large part of this is Indian tourists visiting Singapore. Today, there are over 290 weekly flights to 17 Indian cities from Changi, with opportunities for further growth. Changi Airport Group will continue to work closely with the Singapore Tourism Board, airlines, and the travel trade to deepen connectivity to new cities like Surat and Jaipur to spur travel demand between India and Singapore.”

As Singapore approaches 2025, it reaffirms its commitment to providing fresh and exciting experiences for both new and returning visitors. Upcoming attractions include “Harry Potter: Visions of Magic” opening on 22 November 2024, Singapore Art Week in early 2025, the launch of Minion Land at Sentosa, and the inaugural sailing of Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Adventure in December 2025.