The tourism sector stands as one of Singapore’s key service sectors and economic pillars, offering a wide range of services including attractions, meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), tours and travel, alongside hotels and accommodation.1
According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Singapore welcomed a substantial 13.6 million international visitors in 2023, where tourism receipts reached nearly SGD$26 billion.
Moreover, the tourism sector in Singapore is poised for growth with both international visitor arrivals and tourism receipts to rise further in 20242. This underscores the sector’s crucial role in reinforcing Singapore’s position as a vibrant global hub for capital, businesses, and talent.
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the tourism sector, prompting a reassessment of its business strategies to adapt. Amid this changing landscape, travellers’ needs have evolved and the shift in consumer patterns has ushered in new waves of industry trends. It is therefore essential for the tourism sector to tap on these trends for sustained success into the future.
As organisations in the sector embrace innovation to ride on these emerging trends, their workforce must be adequately equipped for the transformation. With continued tourism recovery, the demand for services will rise; and in tandem, the demand for manpower3.
Building a strong pipeline of talent through the redesign of jobs and creation of new job roles is paramount to meet this talent demand and fortify the sector’s resilience and growth4.
In this report, we investigate the emerging trends in Singapore’s tourism sector including technology, service excellence, sustainability, and holistic wellness.
Our report also explores the sentiments towards hiring, training, and in-demand skills among leaders within the tourism sector.
Notes:
1- SkillsFuture Singapore. 2018. Skills Framework for Tourism
2 - The Straits Times. 2024. Tourism recovery to keep momentum in 2024, with tourist spend nearing pre-Covid
numbers: STB
3 - Singapore Tourism Board. 2023. Tourism (Attractions) Industry Digital Plan
4 - The Business Times. 2022. As tourism sector rebounds, businesses must value their employees even more
Download NTUC LearningHub's Industry Insights Report on Tourism to investigate the emerging trends in Singapore’s tourism sector including technology, service excellence, sustainability, and holistic wellness. Additionally, the report also explores the sentiments towards hiring, training, and in-demand skills among leaders within the tourism sector.
The report features in-depth interviews with Tay Ee Learn (Chief Sector Skills Officer of NTUC LearningHub), Lee Shi Ruh (President of Resorts World Sentosa), Limin Dong (Director of Tourism Human Capital & Sustainability, Singapore Tourism Board), and Kenneth Wong (Director of Trade & Lifestyle Division, Workforce Singapore).
