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SINGAPORE: Singapore recorded the highest number of visitor arrivals last month since it implemented travel restrictions in late March to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 14,676 visitors arrived in Singapore in November, according to data from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Thursday (December 31).
This compares with about 750 travelers in April, after Singapore restricted entry and transit for all short-term visitors on March 23 amid increased risk of imported COVID-19 cases.
More than a quarter of Singapore’s arrivals in November came from China, with about 4,010 travelers. Indonesia accounted for around 3,120 visitors, while Malaysia accounted for 1,200 of the arrivals.
Some of the other visitors came from Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Australia, the United States, Hong Kong, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Taiwan, and France.
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Despite visitor arrivals improving 9.5 percent from October, last month’s figure was still a fraction of the 1.53 million visitors in November 2019, registering a 99 percent drop year-on-year.
STB defines visitor arrivals as international visitors staying in Singapore for less than one year.
This excludes Malaysian nationals arriving by land, as well as returning Singapore citizens, permanent residents and pass holders. Also not included are crew members in public transport modes, military personnel, and passengers in transit or in transit.
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Data from STB also showed that hotel room revenue fell 82 percent year on year to S $ 66.3 million in November. This was also 0.6 percent less than in October, which recorded S $ 66.7 million.
The standard average occupancy rate for November was 53.8%, compared to 88.9% a year earlier.
The average standard room price in November was S $ 144.60, compared to S $ 138.20 in October, but 33.2% less than S $ 216.50 in the same month last year.
Singapore’s aviation and tourism industries have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 19, the Health Ministry said Singapore would gradually reopen its borders with safeguards to allow Singaporeans to carry out essential activities abroad and for foreigners to enter and transit the country.
It has established reciprocal green lanes with some countries to facilitate essential short-term commercial and official travel, and has launched an air travel pass to allow short-term visitors from some countries to enter Singapore.
Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said on November 25 that Singapore needs to manage risks, not eliminate them completely, as the country prepares to reopen for travel.
Global travel “will never be the same again” even after COVID-19, he said. But changes in the way people travel and how events take place “were already on the horizon” before the pandemic.
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