As the COVID-19 virus continues to influence travel plans across the region, the impact on the hotel sector is immediate, so in this short-paper, we look back to 2003 and how the Singapore hotel market recovered from the short-term disruption caused by the SARS virus.

The situation surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) remains fluid and is evolving with each day.

Given the nature of the virus, travel advisories and restrictions are influencing travel plans for individuals and corporations across the globe, the impact on the hotel industry is immediate.

It remains to be seen as to how the outbreak will fully eventuate.

However, assuming that the situation is contained, the impact of the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003 on the tourism and hotel sector will provide meaningful insights on the potential recovery path from the epidemic for Singapore hoteliers.

Singapore Total International Visitor Arrivals 2001 to 2006

Whilst the SARS virus and its short-term impact on the tourism sector was significant, there was no longterm impact on visitor arrivals to Singapore. In fact, the recovery in visitor arrivals was almost immediate following the city-state being declared SARS-free on 30 May 2003

Read the full report here