China becomes Singapore's largest source of tourists after visa waiver

By Hoang Vu March 14, 2024 | 07:09 pm PT

Tourists pose for photographs at Merlion Park in Singapore, Jan. 27, 2023. Photo by Reuters

China surpassed Indonesia to become the biggest source of tourists for Singapore for the first time ever in February.

Some 327,000 Chinese visitors arrived in the city-state, accounting for 30% of all foreign arrivals, according to the latest statistics from the Singapore Tourism Board.

The surge in numbers was due to the mutual visa waiver that took effect on Feb. 9, the tourism board said.

Indonesia, which had been the largest source of tourists previously, was in second position, sending 190,000 visitors, followed by Malaysia, Australia and the U.K.

Chinese tourists stayed for an average of 4.22 days as against the overall 3.46 days by foreign tourists, a decline of 8.7% year-on-year, the board added.

Last year Singapore received 13.6 million foreign visitors.

It eyes 15-16 million this year.