Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore saw healthy growth in air passenger volumes and international visitor arrivals, which had in turn benefitted the aviation- and tourism-related sectors

In the years prior to the pandemic, Singapore enjoyed healthy growth in air passenger volumes handled at Changi Airport and international visitor arrivals (IVA). Specifically, between 2017 and 2019, air passenger and IVA volumes increased by an average of 5.1 and 5.2 per cent per annum respectively [Exhibit 1]. This in turn supported the growth of the aviation- and tourism-related sectors in Singapore. For example, the real value-added (VA) of the air transport and arts, entertainment & recreation (AER) segments rose by an average of 5.5 per cent and 6.8 per cent per annum respectively over the same period.

In 2020, air passenger and IVA volumes came to a near standstill as COVID-19 infections swept across the globe and many countries implemented stringent public health measures, including border closures, to contain the spread of the virus. This box article examines how air passenger and IVA volumes were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their subsequent paths to recovery as international travel resumed with the reopening of borders worldwide.

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