Singapore Visitor Arrivals for June and First Half 2009

Visitor arrivals to Singapore reached 750,000 in June 2009, registering an 8.9% decline over the same month in 2008.

Visitor days were estimated at 3.2 million days, a year-on-year decrease of 8.4% in comparison with June 2008.

In June 2009, Indonesia (159,000), India (79,000), Australia (66,000), Malaysia (61,000) and P.R. China (42,000) were Singapore’s top five visitor-generating markets. These markets accounted for 54% of total visitor arrivals for the month.

Among the top 15 markets, Malaysia (+15.3%), Vietnam (+3.2%) and Indonesia (+3.1%) registered growth for the month. The growth can be attributed to aggressive airline and marketing promotions under the Singapore Tourism Board’s “2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore” global marketing campaign.

Malaysia’s growth can be further attributed to an increase in visitors during the school holidays in June 2009.

Singapore’s tourism sector saw sharper declines in visitor arrivals in June 2009 from markets such as China, Japan and South Korea which can be attributed in part to the global outbreak and concerns of Swine Flu (Influenza A H1N1-2009.

Gazetted hotel room revenue was estimated at Sin$115 million, representing a decrease of 35.3% compared to a year ago.

Average Occupancy Rate was at 76% for June 2009, posting a 5.3 percentage point decrease over June 2008.

Average Room Rate for June 2009 was estimated at Sin$179, representing a decrease of 28.3% over June 2008. RevPAR decreased by 33% to reach Sin$136 in June 2009.

Hotel room revenue was estimated to reach Sin$115 million in June 2009, a drop of 35.3% against June 2008.

In June 2009, hotels in the Luxury (-3.8%) and Upscale Tiers (-3.7%) reported the smallest declines in AOR.

Hotels in the Luxury and Economy Tier recorded the smallest declines of 26.9% and 26.8% respectively in ARR in June 2009, compared to the same month last year.

Hotels in the Luxury Tier saw the least decline in Revpar (-30.6%) in June 2009, compared to June 2008.

Singapore Visitor Arrivals + Spending for H1 2009

Visitor arrivals to Singapore reached 4.5 million in January to June 2009, registering a year-on-year percentage decline of 11.5%.

Visitor days were estimated at 18.7 million days, a year-on-year decrease of 8.5% in comparison with January to June 2008.

From January to June 2009, Indonesia (766,000), P R China (457,000), Australia (376,000), India (361,000) and Malaysia (317,000) were Singapore’s top five visitor generating markets.

These markets accounted for over 50% of total visitor arrivals for the first half of 2009.

Among the top 15 markets, Vietnam (+13.4%), the Philippines (+3.0%), Malaysia (+1.8%) and Germany (+1.3%) registered growth in the first half of 2009 versus the same period last year.

Double digit growth in Vietnam visitor arrivals can be attributed, in part, to aggressive airline and marketing promotions under the Singapore Tourism Board’s “2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore” global marketing campaign and a three-week school holiday for the Lunar New Year in January 2009, which led to the highest monthly growth (+53.7%) during the first half of 2009.

Growth in other markets can be attributed to marketing efforts under the “2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore” campaign and attractive travel packages. In addition to being affected by the global economic climate in the first six months of 2009, Singapore’s tourism sector saw sharper declines in visitor arrivals in May and June 2009 from markets such as China and Japan due to the global outbreak, and concerns over Swine Flu.

Gazetted hotel room revenue was estimated at Sin$721 million, representing a decrease of 33.2% compared to a year ago.

The overall average occupancy rate (AOR) over January to June 2009 was 72%, a drop of 11.1 percentage points compared to the same period a year ago. The AOR for all tiers were also lower compared to the same period last year.

During the first half of 2009, overall average room rate (ARR) reached Sin$195, a decline of 21.3%.

As a result of both falling AOR and ARR, overall RevPAR declined by 31.8% to register Sin$140 in January to June 2009. All hotel tiers registered declines of over 30% in RevPAR versus a year ago. Overall room revenue reached Sin$721 million, a decline of 33.2% in January to June 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.

Tourism Spending

Tourism receipts were estimated to reach Sin$6.4 billion from January to June 2009.

Cumulative tourism receipts for January to June 2009 were estimated to reach Sin$6.4 billion, a decline of 13.5% compared to the same period in 2008.

Indonesia (Sin$1,071 million), P R China (Sin$575 million), Australia (Sin$444 million), India (Sin$431 million) and the UK (Sin$299 million) were Singapore’s top five markets in terms of tourism receipts for the first half of 2009. These markets accounted for 44% of total tourism receipts during this period.

Higher expenditure from Hong Kong visitors had countered their lower arrivals in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year, resulting in an 11.3% growth in tourism receipts. India (-30%), Japan (-27%) and Taiwan (-23.6%) registered the highest declines in tourism receipts in January to June 2009.

The decline in tourism receipts across these markets were a combination of declining visitor arrivals and lower discretionary spending due to the global economic climate.

Between January and June 2009, total visitors’ spending on accommodation and shopping made up 24% and 26% of total tourism receipts respectively.

Top markets with a larger share of their travel expenditure going to accommodation were the Philippines (38%), the USA (38%) and Thailand (36%) as visitors from these markets generally stayed longer.

Visitors from Indonesia, many of whom come to Singapore on short trips or to visit friends and relatives with whom they stay, spent the least on accommodation among all top markets.

Top markets with a larger share of their travel expenditure going to shopping were P R China (42%), Indonesia (28%), Malaysia (28%) and Taiwan (28%). Visitors from UK (16%), South Korea (17%) and USA (18%) spent the least on shopping among all top markets.

2009 Full-Year Projections

2009 full-year projections 2009 full year visitor arrivals are projected to be within the range of 9.0 – 9.5 million, with travellers expected to stay cautious as uncertainties continue about Swine Flu and the general economic environment.

Projected ranges for 2009 full-year tourism receipts of Sin$12.0 to Sin$12.5 billion remain unchanged.

Indonesia, P.R. China, India and Australia are expected to be the top four largest tourism receipts generating markets in 2009.

See also: Singapore Visitor Arrivals for May 2009, and June 2008.

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