Australia was Singapore’s third-highest tourism spender in the first quarter of 2026, contributing SGD$533 million (around AUD$605 million) in receipts as the destination remained a top market for Australian travellers.
Australian visitor spend in Singapore rose one per cent year-on-year in Q1 2026, placing the market now in third place behind only Mainland China and Indonesia for tourism receipts.
The figure sits ahead of the US and India, rounding out the destination’s top five spending markets.
Across all markets, Singapore’s tourism receipts totalled SGD$8.6 billion (around AUD$9.8 billion) for the quarter, a six per cent lift on the same quarter last year, while international visitor arrivals reached 4.4 million, up three per cent.
On arrivals, Australia was Singapore’s fourth-largest source market for the first half of 2026 with 606,000 visitors, level with the same period last year. Mainland China led with 1.53 million, followed by Indonesia (1.15 million) and Malaysia (645,000).
Overall visitor demand is expected to moderate in the second half of 2026, but Australia is flagged among the markets expected to stay resilient alongside Mainland China and Malaysia.
Where the Australian dollar is going
Shopping drove much of the growth with seven of the top 10 markets by tourism receipts recording year-on-year increases in shopping spend, led by high-value retail.
Sightseeing, entertainment and gaming spend grew 23 per cent, shopping seven per cent and other components one per cent. Food and beverage moderated at minus two per cent, while accommodation was flat.
What is drawing visitors in
New leisure product underpinned the first-half performance, including the arrival of Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Adventure and the opening of Rainforest Wild Adventure East at Mandai Wildlife Reserve.
The events calendar is stacked for the rest of 2026. Highlights include the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix (9–11 October), Singapore Tennis Open (21–27 September), an F1 Exhibition running until 18 October and BTS’s sold-out, four-night BTS WORLD TOUR “ARIRANG” concert in December, its longest run in Asia outside Korea and Japan.
The city-state’s meetings and incentives business also held firm with Singapore Airshow 2026 drawing a record 65,000 trade attendees from more than 130 countries in February.
What the second half holds
Australia is one of more than 25 markets covered by new trade partnerships rolled out to drive demand over the coming six months.
Singapore Tourism Board CEO Melissa Ow said: “Our tourism performance in 1H 2026 reflects the continued appeal of Singapore as a destination. We remain clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. As visitor arrivals from some source markets soften and global uncertainty persists, we are working closely with our partners to drive visitor demand.”
“A strong pipeline of events and experiences, targeted promotions in key source markets and close collaboration with our partners are keeping Singapore top of mind for travellers.”
KARRYON UNPACKS: Australia sits in the top three markets for Singapore’s tourism spend, appealing to a client who shops, dines and packs in a full events calendar. With more events in the back half of 2026, there is a clear reason to sell Singapore as a destination in its own right, not just a stopover.
