Tourism recovery brightens Singapore's economy, driving rates up for hotels to record highs. Photo Credit: Unsplash/MikeEnerio
Tourism in the Lion City is roaring back after the government eased
Covid-19 restrictions, with hotel room rates surging last month to its
highest in almost six years.
According to figures released by the Singapore Tourism Board, the
average rate in June was SG$238.32 (US$172.73), the highest since
September 2016 and representing a 63% increase from a year earlier, when
restrictions and requirements were still in place.
In April, Singapore was one of the first countries in Asia to drop
all testing requirements for incoming vaccinated travellers. A
resurgence of conferences and major events ensued, and STB data showed a
nearly 12-fold jump in arrivals in the first half of 2022 compared with
the same period a year ago.
Singapore expects to receive 4 million to 6 million visitors in 2022,
although STB cautioned last week, the unstable global political and
economic environment, as well as the fluidity of the ongoing health
situation, could pose challenges.