Singapore visitor arrivals, hotel room revenue slip month on month in August

SINGAPORE hotel revenue declined in August on the month before, although less sharply than the drop in international arrivals, which was dragged down by fewer Chinese travellers.

The Republic welcomed 15,880 travellers in August, higher by 78.2 per cent on the year-ago downturn, but a month-on-month decline of 14.3 per cent from July's 18,520 arrivals.

Meanwhile, industry room revenue stood at S$68.7 million, up 5.9 per cent year on year, but lower by 6.7 per cent against the takings in July.

Revenue per available room slipped to S$82.13 in August, from S$85.85 in July. The uptick in occupancy rate to 55.5 per cent from 51.8 per cent in July could not make up for the slide in average room rate, which decreased to S$147.99 in August, from S$165.80 before.

Some 8,900 visitors - or more than half of the month's international arrivals - hailed from mainland China, although their ranks dropped by nearly a third, from 12,670 in July.

Among other source countries, the United States was a distant second, sending 828 travellers to Singapore in August, followed by Malaysia, at 683.

Arrivals from Germany amounted to just 139 travellers, ahead of the launch in early September of a quarantine-free travel lane for fully vaccinated individuals.

Overall, Singapore recorded 4,830 overnight visitors in August, who stayed an average of 26.6 days. This marked a decrease from the 5,180 overnight guests and 29.3-day stay in July.

The Singapore Tourism Board defines international visitors as people who spend less than a year in the Republic. It excludes returning residents and pass holders, Malaysians arriving by land, non-resident air and sea crew, as well as air transit passengers.