Singapore Tourism Levels Surpass Pre-COVID Levels

Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced that the number of travelers entering and leaving Singapore in 2024 increased by nearly 20% compared to 2023, surpassing pre-COVID levels recorded in 2019. ICA cleared over 230 million travelers in 2024, up from around 192 million in 2023 and exceeding the 217.3 million recorded in 2019.

The surge in traveler numbers was largely driven by a significant increase in land checkpoint crossings, which accounted for more than 75% of total traveler volume. On December 20, 2024, land crossings hit a record high, with over 562,000 travelers passing through the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints in a single day.

To enhance border security and streamline immigration clearance, ICA introduced several innovations in 2024, including passport-free clearance for Singapore residents at major checkpoints and automated clearance for all foreign visitors. As of January 31, 2025, approximately 47 million travelers have cleared immigration without presenting passports. ICA highlighted that Singapore is likely the first country in the world to implement automated clearance for all travelers.

The full rollout of passport-less clearance at Changi Airport has significantly improved efficiency, reducing the average clearance time per traveler by 60%, from 25 seconds to 10 seconds. At land checkpoints, travelers arriving and departing by car or motorcycle can now use QR codes instead of passports, cutting immigration clearance time by more than 30%.

While traveler volume surged, cargo volume declined by 5.8% in 2024 due to a continued drop in parcel clearances since 2021. The volume of low-value goods also decreased by 9.4% over the same period.