Singapore visitor arrivals peak in March, but outlook ahead is 'grim' as pandemic worsens

SINGAPORE visitor arrivals face a rocky second quarter, as fresh Covid-19 infections and virus variants derail the global travel recovery.

On the bright side, analysts do not expect consumer spending to take a severe hit, as domestic consumption has proven a solid buffer against the plunge in tourism.

Still, new travel restrictions imply a slower tourism recovery, said Kwee Wei-Lin, president of the Singapore Hotel Association, which represents 160 members: "Hopefully, we can see signs of recovery by early 2022."