Data from the Singapore Tourism Board showed that the number of international visitors to Singapore reached 16.5 million in 2024, a 21% year-on-year increase.
Among them, mainland Chinese visitors ranked as the largest source, reaching 3.08 million—a remarkable 126% year-on-year increase—accounting for 18.7% of all inbound arrivals.
In terms of visitor demographics, Chinese tourists to Singapore are predominantly from the 1980s and 1990s generations.
Trip.com data shows that in 2024, 28% of Chinese visitors to Singapore were born in the 1980s, and 24% were born in the 1990s.
Notably, the fastest-growing segment comprises travelers born in the 1990s and 2000s.
The number of post-90s Chinese visitors to Singapore increased by 136% in 2024 compared to 2019, far exceeding the 35% overall outbound travel growth rate for this cohort.
Similarly, the number of post-2000s Chinese tourists traveling to Singapore and abroad grew by over 200% compared to 2019.
With its blend of scenic natural beauty and modern cityscapes, Singapore stands out as a top travel destination, particularly among Chinese female tourists.
Trip.com data shows that in the past year, 57% of Chinese leisure travelers to Singapore were female, while 43% were male. This trend highlights Singapore’s strong appeal to Chinese female tourists, particularly in areas such as cultural experiences, shopping, and dining.
With China's rapidly growing elderly population, senior tourism is emerging as a key driver of outbound travel.
Trip.com data indicates that in 2024, the growth rate of elderly Chinese travelers to Singapore (born before 1960, in the 1960s, and 1970s) significantly outpaced the growth rate of their peers in the overall Chinese outbound travel market compared to 2019.
The demand for high-end accommodations among Chinese tourists has also risen. The overall star-rated hotel market in Singapore has seen substantial growth, with higher-star-rated hotels leading the trend. Bookings and spending on 4-star hotels saw fastest growth, with room nights increasing by 89% and total spending rising by 78%. This underscores Chinese travelers’ strong purchasing power and preference for mid-to-high-end hotels.
Leisure travelers continue to be the primary segment driving Chinese tourism to Singapore. In 2024, leisure tourists accounted for 73% of Chinese visitors, while business travelers made up the remaining 27%.
Among leisure travelers, the top three source regions were Shanghai (24%), Guangdong (18%), and Beijing (13%), according to Trip.com data.
Compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, business travel from China to Singapore has seen rapid expansion. With increased international exchanges, business travel from China’s key commercial hubs grew by more than 100%, significantly outpacing the growth rate of leisure travel.
Travel habits among Chinese tourists are shifting towards more spontaneous, flexible bookings.
Trip.com data from the past year shows that:
* Over 90% of Chinese visitors booked package vacation deals (including flights and hotels) at least 8 days in advance.
* For day tours and car rentals, most bookings were made just one day before travel.
* Around 70% of visitors booked flights at least 8 days in advance.
* Hotel bookings were evenly distributed across different booking windows, with each timeframe for more than 10% of total reservations.
* For attraction tickets, nearly 50% of travelers ordered them on the day of their visit.
The strong rebound of Singapore’s inbound tourism in 2024 highlights the effectiveness of its diversified, high-quality, sustainable tourism strategy.
