Question

Mr Saktiandi Supaat: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the number of tourist arrivals and the amount of tourism receipts from China in 2023; (b) what are the reasons for how those figures compare to the 3.63 million tourist arrivals and $4.12 billion of tourism receipts from China in 2019; and (c) whether any studies have been conducted on the potential impact of the 30-day mutual visa exemption arrangement on Chinese tourist arrivals and spending in Singapore.

Written Answer by Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong

1. There were 1.23 million visitor arrivals from mainland China between January and November 2023. Mainland Chinese visitors spent S$1.12 billion in tourism receipts between January and June 2023. Corrected for the same period, these represent 37% and 56% of 2019’s visitor arrivals and tourism receipts figures respectively . In 2023, mainland Chinese travellers showed a preference for domestic over outbound travel in general, and flight connectivity between China and Singapore was still recovering to pre-pandemic levels. As of December 2023, weekly flight passenger services  between China and Singapore have recovered to 78% of 2019’s figures. As outbound travel from China and flight connectivity continue to pick up, the recovery of Chinese visitor arrivals and spending in Singapore should follow suit.

2. MTI and STB, together with other relevant agencies, had assessed that the 30-day mutual visa exemption arrangement with China will increase Singapore’s attractiveness as a tourist destination for Chinese visitors, and boost visitor arrivals and spending in Singapore across the retail, F&B and related sectors in the tourism industry.

3. Equally important, the longer visa exemption will also make it more convenient for Singaporeans to travel for leisure into China, and Singapore businesses to explore opportunities and network with their counterparts to grow their business in the Chinese market.