Tourism in Singapore
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates
Tourism in Singapore is a major industry and contributor to the Singaporean economy. In 2019, 19,114,002 tourists visited the country, which was the highest recorded number of arrivals since independence in 1965.<ref name=stb2019/> As of 2024, as tourist arrivals recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a total of 16,526,344 international tourists that have visited Singapore, which was almost thrice the country's total population.<ref name=stb1/>
The country is marketed as a "City In Nature" destination by the Singapore Tourism Board under its 'Made in Singapore' campaign in 2023, with sustainable tourism as part of the campaign efforts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also claims to be environmentally friendly, and maintains natural and heritage conservation programs. Along with this, it also has one of the world's lowest crime rates. As English is the dominant one of its four official languages, it is generally easier for tourists to understand when speaking to the local population of the country, for example, when shopping. Transport in Singapore exhaustively covers most, if not all public venues in Singapore, which increases convenience for tourists. This includes the well-known Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. Singapore is the 5th most visited city in the world, and 2nd in Asia-Pacific.<ref>Template:Cite news </ref>
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 ranks Singapore 13th out of 136 countries overall, which was the third best in Asia only behind Japan (ranked 4th) and Hong Kong (ranked 11th). The report ranks Singapore's business environment, international openness, also travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions as the best in the world (ranked 1st). However, the island nation scored rather low in natural and cultural resources sub-index (ranked 40th).<ref>Template:Cite web </ref><ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
History
Template:See also In January 1964, the Singapore Tourism Board (then known as Singapore Tourist Promotion Board), was set up to market Singapore, then a state of Malaysia, as a destination for tourists, to develop and to regulate the tourism industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Government of Singapore had aimed to create more jobs, income and to facilitate trade within Singapore, through the development of the tourism industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Throughout the 1960s to 70s, the tourism board ran multiple advertising campaigns aimed at drawing visitors from different countries and published monthly newsletters to promote multiple attractions in Singapore.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Merlion was also created as the Singapore Tourism Board's logo in 1964 and was used in promotional materials.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Merlion eventually became a well-known Singaporean icon and in 1972, a Merlion statue was erected in the Merlion Park.<ref name="URASkylineMerlionMove">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1977, there was a record of 1.5 million visitors to the country and tourist receipts were estimated to be S$628 million as compared to 522,000 visitors and S$269 million in tourist expenditure in 1970.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Throughout the 1980s to 1990s, the tourism board aimed to market the culture of Singapore to visitors through the renewal of infrastructure in historical areas such as Chinatown and development of new venues for hosting concerts and conventions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2005, the government of Singapore announced the development of 2 integrated resorts in Marina South and Sentosa.<ref name="Proposal to develop Integrated Resorts"> Template:Cite web</ref> Plans to develop Gardens by the Bay were also announced in that same year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The resorts were part of plans to boost the tourism industry which had been facing intense competition from other destinations around the region, particularly from nearby Bangkok and Hong Kong, which has since also considered legalisation of casinos in the wake of initiatives in Singapore.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Marina Bay Sands was officially opened on 23 June 2010,<ref name="MBS opening">Template:Cite web</ref> while Gardens by the Bay opened on June 29, 2012<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Resorts World Sentosa was officially opened on December 7, 2012.<ref name="GrandOpening">Template:Cite web</ref>
Tourism statistics
<timeline> ImageSize=width:270 height:300 PlotArea=left:60 bottom:75 top:10 right:16 AlignBars=justify Period=from:0 till:1700 TimeAxis=orientation:horizontal
Colors=
id:gray value:gray(0.5) id:line1 value:gray(0.9) id:line2 value:gray(0.7)
ScaleMajor=unit:year increment:500 start:0 gridcolor:line2 ScaleMinor=unit:year increment:500 start:0 gridcolor:line1
BarData=
bar:January text:January bar:February text:February bar:March text:March bar:April text:April bar:May text:May bar:June text:June bar:July text:July bar:August text:August bar:September text:September bar:October text:October bar:November text:November bar:December text:December
PlotData=
color:tan1 width:10
bar:January from:start till:1420 text: bar:February from:start till:1420 text: bar:March from:start till:1460 text: bar:April from:start till:1340 text: bar:May from:start till:1280 text: bar:June from:start till:1250 text: bar:July from:start till:1600 text: bar:August from:start till:1540 text: bar:September from:start till:1270 text: bar:October from:start till:1310 text: bar:November from:start till:1230 text: bar:December from:start till:1390 text:
TextData=
pos:(50,37) textcolor:gray fontsize:M text:Tourist arrivals in 2024 (k)
TextData=
pos:(50,20) textcolor:gray fontsize:M text:Source: TradingEconomics /
TextData=
pos:(50,3) textcolor:gray fontsize:M text: Singapore Tourism Board</timeline>
Visitor arrivals to Singapore has been increasing since the country's independence in 1965.<ref name="stb1"/> As compared to a total of 99,000 visitors recorded in 1965, Singapore attracted a record-high of approximately 19.1 million visitors in 2019 with receipts at S$27.7 billion, according to preliminary figures by the Singapore Tourism Board.<ref name=stb2019/><ref name="COVID-19">Template:Cite web</ref> The total number of visitors increased by 3.3% from 2018, with increased in arrivals in visitors from China, Indonesia and Australia, while visitors from India and Malaysia dropped 2% and 3% respectively.<ref name=stb2019/> Tourism receipts increased 2.8% from 2018, with most visitors spending in the sightseeing, entertainment and gaming (S$1,593 million), shopping (S$1,457 million), accommodation (S$1,439 million) and food & beverage (S$649 million) categories.<ref name=stb2019/>
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitor statistics in Singapore fell 85.7% and tourism receipts fell 82.6% (S$4.8 million) from 2019.<ref name=stb2020/> A total of 2,700,000 visitors were recorded that year, which was the first time visitor statistics fell since the decrease in arrivals in 2014.<ref name=stb2020/> Visitors coming into Singapore for short-term visits were also barred from entering and transiting from March 23, 2020, to October 19, 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2021, visitors arrivals further dipped to 330,059 visitors, which was an 88% decrease as compared to 2020.<ref name="stan1"/> In December 2021, amid the spread of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron variant, many countries still had travel restrictions, with some governments banning travel completely to curb transmission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Travel into Singapore for short-term visits were only resumed in September 2021 with the introduction of vaccinated travel lanes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, the country recorded a total of 16,526,344 visitors, which was an increase of 21% as compared to 2023.<ref name=stb1/>
General trends
| Year | Tourism Arrivals | <ref name="stb1"/> Percentage change from previous period |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 99,000 | |
| 1970 | 579,000 | 488.1% |
| 1975 | 1,324,000 | 128.6% |
| 1980 | 2,562,000 | 92% |
| 1985 | 3,031,000 | 18.3% |
| 1990 | 5,323,000 | 75.6% |
| 1995 | 7,137,000 | 34.1% |
| 2000 | 7,691,399 | 7.8% |
| 2005 | 8,943,029 | 16.3% |
| 2010 | 11,638,663 | 30.1% |
| 2015 | 15,231,469 | 30.9% |
| 2020 | 2,742,443 | −82% |
Recent years
| Year | Tourism Arrivals | <ref name=stb1>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=stb2019/><ref name=stb2020/> Percentage change from previous year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 11,641,700 | 20.2% |
| 2011 | 13,171,303 | 13.1% |
| 2012 | 14,496,091 | 10.1% |
| 2013 | 15,567,923 | 7.4% |
| 2014 | 15,095,152 | −3% |
| 2015 | 15,231,469 | 0.9% |
| 2016 | 16,402,593 | 7.7% |
| 2017 | 17,422,826 | 6.2% |
| 2018 | 18,506,619 | 6.2% |
| 2019 | 19,114,002 | 3.3% |
| 2020 | 2,742,443 | −85.7% |
| 2021 | 330,059 | −88% |
| 2022 | 6,305,744 | 1,810.5% |
| 2023 | 13,610,404 | 115.7% |
| 2024 | 16,526,312 | 21.5% |
Top markets 2000–2010
Source: Singapore Tourism Analytics Network<ref name="stan1">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Static row numbers
| Country or territory | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 1,313,316 | 1,364,380 | 1,393,020 | 1,341,747 | 1,765,324 | 1,813,569 | 1,922,217 | 1,962,055 | 1,765,429 | 1,745,330 | 2,305,149 |
| Template:Flag | 434,336 | 497,398 | 670,099 | 568,510 | 880,259 | 857,814 | 1,037,201 | 1,113,956 | 1,078,742 | 936,747 | 1,171,337 |
| Template:Flag<ref name="ReferenceA">Excludes Malaysian citizens arriving by land.</ref> | 564,750 | 578,719 | 548,659 | 439,437 | 537,336 | 577,987 | 634,303 | 645,774 | 647,480 | 764,309 | 1,036,918 |
| Template:Flag | 510,347 | 550,681 | 538,408 | 392,906 | 561,163 | 620,255 | 691,632 | 768,490 | 833,156 | 830,299 | 880,486 |
| Template:Flag | 346,360 | 339,828 | 375,697 | 309,487 | 471,244 | 583,590 | 658,902 | 748,728 | 778,303 | 725,624 | 828,903 |
| Template:Flag | 929,895 | 755,766 | 723,431 | 434,087 | 598,840 | 588,535 | 594,406 | 594,514 | 571,040 | 489,987 | 528,817 |
| Template:Flag | 181,032 | 190,630 | 195,564 | 176,585 | 245,918 | 319,971 | 386,119 | 418,775 | 418,938 | 432,072 | 544,344 |
| Template:Flag | 285,975 | 276,157 | 265,970 | 226,260 | 271,691 | 313,831 | 291,474 | 302,110 | 278,115 | 294,420 | 387,552 |
| Template:Flag | 246,750 | 260,958 | 263,866 | 235,826 | 341,989 | 379,040 | 356,367 | 353,416 | 333,905 | 317,905 | 430,022 |
| Template:Flag | 385,585 | 343,805 | 327,648 | 250,678 | 333,156 | 371,440 | 399,786 | 408,885 | 396,631 | 370,704 | 416,990 |
| Template:Flag | 354,353 | 359,083 | 371,050 | 261,403 | 361,083 | 364,206 | 454,722 | 464,292 | 423,018 | 271,987 | 360,673 |
| Template:Flag | 444,976 | 460,018 | 458,528 | 387,982 | 457,262 | 467,154 | 488,167 | 495,693 | 492,933 | 469,756 | 461,714 |
| Template:Flag | 31,837 | 34,633 | 40,652 | 44,420 | 105,803 | 150,626 | 165,105 | 203,210 | 239,299 | 265,414 | 322,853 |
| Template:Flag | 290,904 | 222,087 | 209,321 | 144,942 | 182,443 | 213,959 | 219,463 | 208,156 | 175,924 | 156,761 | 191,173 |
| Template:Flag | 169,408 | 166,981 | 157,510 | 121,376 | 142,371 | 154,779 | 161,125 | 164,900 | 175,280 | 183,681 | 209,231 |
Top markets 2011–2020
Source: Singapore Tourism Analytics Network,<ref name=stan1/> Singapore Tourism Board <ref name=stb2019>Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name=stb2020>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Country or territory | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 2,592,222 | 2,837,537 | 3,088,859 | 3,025,178 | 2,731,690 | 2,893,614 | 2,954,384 | 3,021,429 | 3,109,000 | 457,027 |
| Template:Flag | 1,577,522 | 2,034,177 | 2,269,870 | 1,722,380 | 2,106,164 | 2,863,582 | 3,226,929 | 3,416,475 | 3,627,000 | 357,292 |
| Template:Flag | 956,039 | 1,050,373 | 1,125,179 | 1,074,878 | 1,043,568 | 1,027,309 | 1,081,987 | 1,107,215 | 1,143,000 | 206,238 |
| Template:Flag | 868,991 | 894,993 | 933,553 | 943,636 | 1,013,986 | 1,097,186 | 1,272,069 | 1,442,242 | 1,418,000 | 175,522 |
| Template:Flag | 1,140,935 | 1,231,686 | 1,280,942 | 1,233,035 | 1,171,077 | 1,151,480 | 1,168,356 | 1,253,992 | 1,221,000 | 153,650 |
| Template:Flag | 442,611 | 446,497 | 461,459 | 451,931 | 473,810 | 489,205 | 518,903 | 588,863 | 607,000 | 133,336 |
| Template:Flag | 656,417 | 757,116 | 832,845 | 824,741 | 789,179 | 783,721 | 792,813 | 829,664 | 884,000 | 125,879 |
| Template:Flag | 440,576 | 477,213 | 491,946 | 484,912 | 499,509 | 516,276 | 565,250 | 643,162 | 729,000 | 123,182 |
| Template:Flag | 677,723 | 656,804 | 687,794 | 676,481 | 673,374 | 691,555 | 736,456 | 778,135 | 829,000 | 97,881 |
| Template:Flag | 219,952 | 252,433 | 251,560 | 263,513 | 286,732 | 328,762 | 342,336 | 356,797 | 381,000 | 95,563 |
| Template:Flag | 414,879 | 445,184 | 471,768 | 536,975 | 577,082 | 566,503 | 631,359 | 629,451 | 646,000 | 89,522 |
| Template:Flag | 332,231 | 366,234 | 380,495 | 424,408 | 418,266 | 469,409 | 531,359 | 591,600 | 592,000 | 74,424 |
| Template:Flag | 472,708 | 477,654 | 497,409 | 506,509 | 516,409 | 546,384 | 531,307 | 545,601 | 528,000 | 63,622 |
| Template:Flag | 238,488 | 282,203 | 350,308 | 337,431 | 378,026 | 394,174 | 395,549 | 422,935 | 429,000 | 61,887 |
| Template:Flag | 464,375 | 472,167 | 539,810 | 631,029 | 609,888 | 537,964 | 465,769 | 473,113 | 489,000 | 58,976 |
Top markets 2021–present
Source: Singapore Tourism Analytics Network<ref name=stan1>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Country or territory | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 88,250 | 130,870 | 1,128,440 | 3,082,218 |
| Template:Flag | 33,460 | 1,104,160 | 1,872,030 | 2,489,342 |
| Template:Flag | 54,380 | 686,470 | 887,260 | 1,197,107 |
| Template:Flag | 24,220 | 590,960 | 891,890 | 1,185,127 |
| Template:Flag | 10,050 | 565,680 | 884,270 | 1,173,777 |
| Template:Flag | 11,490 | 381,990 | 568,380 | 779,078 |
| Template:Flag | 10,960 | 318,450 | 516,040 | 692,466 |
| Template:Flag | 7,130 | 217,530 | 488,370 | 594,898 |
| Template:Flag | 8,550 | 226,740 | 384,060 | 579,958 |
| Template:Flag | 5,920 | 132,110 | 359,050 | 573,236 |
| Template:Flag | 3,410 | 65,050 | 289,980 | 403,367 |
| Template:Flag | 3,440 | 312,710 | 406,410 | 393,184 |
| Template:Flag | 4,380 | 283,430 | 393,210 | 364,741 |
| Template:Flag | 5,410 | 130,590 | 249,770 | 349,181 |
| Template:Flag | 5,430 | 129,050 | 267,910 | 305,842 |
| Template:Flag | 4,210 | 86,090 | 142,140 | 179,365 |
| Template:Flag | 595 | 57,080 | 115,910 | 144,733 |
| Template:Flag | 10,020 | 85,290 | 100,550 | 134,916 |
| Template:Flag | 1,690 | 55,020 | 102,970 | 126,971 |
| Template:Flag | 17,900 | 102,990 | 98,730 | 121,760 |
| Template:Flag | 1,960 | 51,180 | 76,600 | 89,291 |
| Template:Flag | 1,230 | 33,120 | 63,710 | 86,843 |
| Template:Flag | 940 | 42,970 | 66,100 | 83,630 |
| Template:Flag | 1,320 | 36,290 | 62,050 | 83,223 |
| Template:Flag | 777 | 30,460 | 49,640 | 64,685 |
| Template:Flag | 1,470 | 35,520 | 44,260 | 56,880 |
| Template:Flag | 388 | 9,800 | 46,460 | 54,891 |
| Template:Flag | 1,250 | 31,640 | 47,580 | 49,495 |
| Template:Flag | 730 | 16,410 | 23,590 | 27,992 |
| Template:Flag | 196 | 7,170 | 18,620 | 26,396 |
| Template:Flag | 545 | 13,500 | 21,330 | 26,027 |
| Template:Flag | 159 | 13,020 | 19,910 | 24,455 |
| Template:Flag | 355 | 9,780 | 15,580 | 23,214 |
| Template:Flag | 425 | 12,690 | 20,270 | 22,998 |
| Template:Flag | 195 | 10,560 | 14,690 | 17,224 |
| Template:Flag | 704 | 11,940 | 14,040 | 16,011 |
| Template:Flag | 38 | 3,650 | 7,470 | 7,685 |
| Template:Flag | 54 | 1,370 | 4,910 | 6,862 |
| Template:Flag | 35 | 2,410 | 4,010 | 4,788 |
| Template:Flag | 94 | 1,640 | 6,320 | 2,732 |
Challenges to the tourism industry
Tourism impact of COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021)
In early 2020, COVID-19 pandemic has affected the numbers of foreign visitors across the country. In February 2020, Indonesia raised its travel alert for Singapore to level yellow, urging Indonesian citizens to take extra precautions when they visit the city-state.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Indonesia is among the top source of foreign visitors to Singapore. It is predicted that the number of visitors could fall between 25 and 30 per cent from the 2019 figure.<ref name="COVID-19"/>
On 16 September 2020, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing has announced that all adult Singaporeans will get $100 tourism vouchers, accessible digitally via Singpass, to be used from December 2020 to June 2021. The $320 million SingapoRediscovers Vouchers scheme is part of the government's effort to prop up the tourism sector, which has been decimated by travel restrictions amidst COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In April 2022 same day as the U.K., Ireland, Finland, Malaysia and other countries, COVID-19 tourism impact in Singapore was officially ended by early April 2022 as the country moves towards the endemic phase.
Popular tourist destinations
.jpg)
.jpg)
Located within the Marina Bay area, the Merlion, Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands stand among Singapore's most iconic landmarks, prominently defining the city's skyline and serving as symbols of its modern architectural and cultural identity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other popular tourist attractions include the Singapore Zoo, River Wonders and Night Safari. Singapore's Changi Airport also offers a range of attractions within its premises, with Jewel Changi Airport standing out as the crown jewel. In 2024, Jewel welcomed a record 80 million visitors — the highest annual attendance since its opening in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Situated in the southern region of Singapore, Sentosa Island remains one of the country's most popular resort destinations, boasting a number notable landmarks. Among them is Fort Siloso, a historic coastal fortification built to defend against Japanese forces during World War II. Visitors can explore the fort's collection of wartime artillery, ranging from smaller-caliber guns to a 16 pound (7 kg) cannon.<ref name="NHB">National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, Template:ISBN</ref>
Sentosa is also home to major attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore and Skyline Luge Singapore, a luge where guests navigate a purpose-built track while lying supine and steering by shifting their weight or pulling on the sled's straps. As part of Singapore's broader initiative to enhance its tourism appeal, two of Sentosa's marquee attractions are undergoing significant upgrades. The S.E.A Aquarium, which first opened in 2012, was under refurbishment and was rebranded as the Singapore Oceanarium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was re-opened to the public on July 24, 2025 after its expansion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Similarly, Universal Studios Singapore recently unveiled a new attraction in February 2025 as part of its ongoing development.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Beyond Sentosa, Singapore continues to broaden its tourism offerings in other regions. In the north region, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve has introduced several new highlights. Bird Paradise, a sprawling aviary which is dedicated towards exposing the public to as much species and varieties of birds from around the world as possible, including a flock of one thousand flamingos, opened in May 2023, while Rainforest Wild Asia, an adventure-driven zoological park, welcomed its first visitors in March 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Complementing these attractions is the newly launched Mandai Rainforest Resort, a rainforest-themed eco-resort that began operations in April 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other popular areas includes the four-ethnic quarters of Singapore, Chinatown, Geylang Serai, Kampong Glam and Little India<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and also Orchard Road, a famous upscale shopping area, with numerous internationally renowned department stores, shopping malls, restaurants, and coffeehouses located in its vicinity.<ref name="yoursg2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Cultural and historical landmarks
A former British colony, Singapore has various historical and cultural landmarks with British and regional influences in its architecture. Such cultural landmarks include the Masjid Sultan, one of Singapore's most important mosques which was completed in 1826. The Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of Singapore's oldest Chinese temples, which was completed in 1839 and the Sri Mariamman Temple, which was built in 1827, making it the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore.<ref> Template:Cite web </ref> Other historical monuments include the Kranji War Memorial, Civilian War Memorial, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, Yueh Hai Ching Temple, Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery and Istana Kampong Glam.Template:Citation needed
Singapore has four major museums depicting the art and history of the country and of the region. The Asian Civilisations Museum specialises in the material history of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia, from which the diverse ethnic groups of Singapore trace their ancestry, while the Peranakan Museum, the first of its kind in the world, explores Peranakan cultures in Singapore and other former Straits Settlements in Malacca and Penang, and other Peranakan communities in Southeast Asia.<ref name="newest">Template:Cite press release</ref> Singapore's National Museum of Singapore is the oldest museum in the country, with its history dating back to 1849, mainly showcases collections of nation-building and the history of Singapore from the 14th century in a story-telling approach,<ref name="Clara Chow">Clara Chow, "National Museum opens after $132m makeover", The Straits Times, 8 December 2006</ref> while the Singapore Art Museum is a contemporary art museum focusing on art practices in Singapore, Southeast Asia and Asia. Other smaller museums include Changi Museum, which showcases collection of paintings, photographs and personal effects donated by former POWs (Prisoners of War) during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore<ref> Template:Cite news </ref> and the Mint Museum of Toys, which has a collection of 3,000 toys and childhood memorabilia from the mid-19th century to mid-20th Century.Template:Citation needed
City sight-seeing
Sightseeing Bus fleet
Historically, their fleet was made up of second-hand step-entrance double deckers in 2001–2004 for the City Sightseeing/Singapore Ducktours operation in Singapore, but new open-top buses were used beginning January 2006. Electronic destination displays (which uses Mobitec MobiLED in larger font) were added in January 2006 to replace roller-blinds in stages. Template:As of, Big Bus Tours has Volvo B9TL/Optare Visionaire or MCV DD103, Dennis Trident 2/East Lancs Lolyne, DAF DB250LF/Plaxton President and Ayats Integral buses, where they will progressively be replaced by Volvo BZL/MCV EvoSeti double decker buses as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. City Sightseeing and Gray Line Tours uses Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses.
Boat fleet
- 5 Condiesel LARC V (Originally from Singapore Armed Forces, withdrawn in 2000 and converted in 2002. Progressively withdrawn from June 2022 after introduction of electric LARC-EV).
- 2 Condiesel LARC-EV (Built in January 2022)
Nature sight-seeing
.jpg)
Singapore has a variety of parks and projects which often feature its natural tropical environment.
Singapore has four zoos, namely, the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Paradise and River Wonders. The Singapore Zoo displays animals in 'open' naturalistic, spacious, landscaped enclosures separated from the visitors by hidden barriers, moats, and glass, with various shows and events occurring throughout the day to allow visitors to interact with the animals.<ref name="Bell2001">Template:Cite book</ref> Night Safari is the world's first nocturnal zoo, set in a humid tropical forest that is only open at night, it is divided into seven geographical zones, which can be explored either on foot via four walking trails, or by tram. Bird Paradise is the largest bird park in Asia with extensive specimens of exotic bird life from around the world, including a flock of one thousand flamingos. River Wonders features a tropical rainforest setting<ref name="CNAMay21">Template:Cite web</ref> and features 10 different ecosystems around the world, with 5000 animals of 300 species. Among the main attractions in the River Wonders is a pair of male and female giant pandas – Kai Kai (凯凯) and Jia Jia (嘉嘉)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – which are housed in a specially constructed climate-controlled enclosure which change throughout the four seasons emulating their original environment.<ref name="Official Page">Template:Cite web</ref>
Among the various gardens and parks located in the country, Singapore's Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay are most popular amongst tourists. The Singapore Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a 52 hectares tropical garden, among its main attractions includes the National Orchid collection with over 3000 types of orchids<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> growing.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Gardens by the Bay, designed as a series of large tropical leaf-shaped gardens, each with its own specific landscaping design, character and theme. Its main attractions are the two conservatories, the Flower Dome, which replicates a mild, dry climate and features plants found in the Mediterranean and other semi-arid tropical regions,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> and the Cloud Forest, which replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above sea level, found in South-East Asia, Middle- and South America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other main attractions include the Supertree Grove, which features tree-like structures, known as Supertrees that dominate the Gardens' landscape. They are vertical gardens that perform a multitude of functions, which include planting, shading and working as environmental engines for the gardens.<ref name="Sustainability Efforts">Template:Cite web</ref>
Singapore also has two ASEAN Heritage Parks, which are the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, an extensive nature reserve which covers much of the Bukit Timah Hill, and is the only remaining place where primary rainforest still exists on the island,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, which is known for its high variety of bird species, crabs, mudskippers and flora and fauna.<ref>Sungei Buloh History Template:Webarchive, Official Site, retrieved 3 June 2009.</ref><ref>Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve – Fun Facts Template:Webarchive, Official website, retrieved 4 June 2009.</ref>
Pulau Ubin, is an offshore island situated in the north-eastern island group, is one of the last rural areas to be found in Singapore, where the last of undeveloped kampongs (villages) and wooden jetties, abandoned quarries and plantations, with an abundance of natural flora and fauna. The island forms part of the Ubin–Khatib Important Bird Area (IBA), identified as such by BirdLife International because it supports significant numbers of visiting and resident birds, some of which are threatened.<ref name=bli>Template:Cite web</ref> One of the more popular spots on the island is, Chek Jawa, a previous coral reef 5000 years ago, where several ecosystems can be observed in one area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Dining
.jpg)
Singapore's cuisine reflects its multicultural heritage, shaped by its role as a major international port since its establishment as a British trading post in 1819.<ref name="hwakerhistory">Template:Cite web</ref> A large part of Singaporean cuisine centres around the hawker culture in the country. Hawker stalls first began around mid 1800s and were largely made up of street food stalls selling a huge variety of foods.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Influenced primarily by Chinese, Malay, and Indian culinary traditions—mirroring the country's ethnic composition—Singaporean food has evolved into a rich tapestry of flavors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This diversity is most evident in the nation's hawker culture, which dates back to the mid-1800s when street vendors began offering a wide variety of affordable dishes.<ref name="hwakerhistory"/>
In hawker centres—an enduring cornerstone of daily life—cross-cultural influences abound. Malay stalls often serve halal versions of Chinese or Tamil dishes, while Chinese vendors incorporate Malay and Indian ingredients and techniques. Some dishes fuse elements from all three cultures, alongside influences from across Asia and the West.. This culinary blend was internationally recognized when Singapore's hawker culture was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With hawker centres and food courts more prevalent and accessible than restaurants, dining out is a common practice among Singaporeans,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> especially given the affordability and variety these centres offer. Notable among them are Lau Pa Sat, Newton Food Centre, and Maxwell Food Centre, where several stalls have earned Bib Gourmand recognition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Food is also a key pillar of Singapore's tourism strategy, promoted alongside shopping as one of the nation's top attractions by the Singapore Tourism Board. The Singapore Food Festival, held every July, celebrates this culinary diversity. Thanks to its multicultural roots, abundant international options, and a price range catering to all budgets, Singapore has earned its reputation as a global "food paradise." Iconic local dishes include kaya toast, chilli crab, fish head curry, laksa and roti prata,<ref name="CNN 1"> Template:Cite news </ref> and the beloved Hainanese chicken rice—often regarded as Singapore's national dish.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tourist events
Singapore Tourism Board promotes a variety of events all year round for tourists. Some of the anchor events are the Chingay Parade, Singapore Arts Festival and Singapore Garden Festival.Template:Citation needed The Singapore Food Festival is held every July to celebrate Singapore's cuisine. Other annual events include the Singapore Sun Festival, the Christmas Light Up, and the Singapore Jewel Festival.<ref> What's Happening in Singapore Template:Webarchive, VisitSingapore.com. </ref> Since 2008, Singapore has hosted the Singapore Grand Prix, part of the FIA Formula One World Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The inaugural race, held on a new street circuit at Marina Bay, was the first night-time event in Formula One history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The race was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2010, Singapore hosted the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, where the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said the Games is expected to generate a minimum of 180,000 visitor nights for Singapore.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref>
See also
- Visa policy of Singapore
- Communications in Singapore
- Culture of Singapore
- History of Singapore
- History of the Republic of Singapore
- Landmark sites in Singapore
- Media of Singapore
- Singapore Tourism Board
- Transport in Singapore
References
External links
- Template:Library resources about
- Singapore Tourism Board
- VisitSingapore.com – The official destination website of Singapore
Template:Major Tourist Attractions in Singapore Template:Singapore topics Template:Tourism in Asia