Increased interest noted, but high costs remain a barrier for some Chinese tourists
With the mutual visa exemption between Singapore and China set to take effect on February 9, 2024, there has been a surge in interest from Chinese tourists, according to travel companies. Following the January 25 announcement, searches for Singapore tourism products on Trip.com’s China platform spiked over 14 times compared to the previous day, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for travel to Singapore.
However, experts are divided on the long-term impact of the visa exemption, especially in terms of boosting tourism arrivals. While the visa-free travel arrangement is expected to make it easier for Chinese nationals to visit, Singapore’s high-cost reputation may still act as a significant deterrent for some travelers.
The positive response has been seen across the industry since the two countries first revealed plans for the arrangement in early December 2023, though the start date remained unspecified until recently. Industry players are hopeful that the visa exemption will help increase Chinese visitors, but the extent of the increase remains uncertain as cost considerations play a key role in the decision-making process for many potential tourists.
