Recently, the 2024 “Global Top 100 City Tourism Destination Index” ranking released by global market research organization Euromonitor International shows that Singapore has jumped three places from last year’s 12th place to ninth place, entering the top ten for the first time. This news has attracted widespread media attention to Singapore.
The ranking investigates 55 indicators of 100 cities around the world, evaluating relevant performance in six major areas, including economic and business performance, tourism performance, tourism infrastructure, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability. Among them, Singapore has shown strong appeal.
In terms of economy and business, Singapore has always performed well among regional countries. In the third quarter of 2024, Singapore’s GDP exceeded expectations, with a year-on-year growth of 5.4%; in the first three quarters, GDP achieved a year-on-year growth of 3.8%, and Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry adjusted its GDP growth forecast for 2024 to 3.5%. In the field of business investment, Singapore has performed well, second only to Dubai, ranking third in the world. In the latest global competitiveness report, Singapore successfully topped the list, and its performance in labor market values and technological infrastructure ranked first in the world.
Sustainable tourism development is a highlight of Singapore. The “Singapore Green Development Blueprint 2030” launched by the new government has taken effective measures in reducing carbon emissions, promoting green economy, protecting green space and biodiversity, and basically achieved sustainable development goals. As a result, Singapore has been certified as a sustainable tourism destination by the World Tourism Council for Sustainable Development, ranking second in the Asia-Pacific region and seventeenth in the world, attracting many tourists who pay attention to environmental protection and sustainable tourism.
Singapore’s urban planning and construction keep pace with the times and are forward-looking. Singapore, known as the “Garden City”, re-examines and compiles urban construction updates almost every decade. The expansion of Changi Airport and the opening of the new terminal have greatly improved the tourist reception capacity, making it one of the best airports in the world. At the same time, new tourism products and projects such as Gardens by the Bay and Night Zoo are constantly launched, providing tourists with a rich entertainment experience.
Multiculturalism and cuisine are important factors in attracting tourists to Singapore. It combines the cooking traditions of China, Malaysia, India and the West, and there are many kinds of cuisine. In addition, from the modern landscape of Marina Bay to the historical features of Chinatown, to the leisure vacation of Sentosa, the combination of modern urban landscape and natural landscape, coupled with a clean and tidy environment, world-class shopping malls and high-tech parks, provides tourists with a rich and colorful experience.
Singapore has also actively promoted the development of large-scale convention and exhibition industries, and has maintained its position as Asia’s top conference city for many years. It has also ranked among the top in the global city rankings of the International Congress and Convention Association, becoming an ideal destination for business travel, further consolidating its appeal as an international tourist city.
It is worth mentioning that Singapore’s visa-free policy has helped the tourism industry grow significantly. For example, the mutual visa exemption agreement signed between China and Singapore has made it more convenient for tourists from the two countries to travel. In the first ten months of 2024, the number of Chinese tourists entering Singapore reached 13.9 million, a year-on-year increase of 23%.