Visitor arrivals to Singapore has been increasing since the country's independence in 1965.^[3] As compared to a total of 99,000 visitors recorded in 1965, Singapore attracted a record-high of approximately 19.1 million visitors in 2019 with receipts at S$27.7 billion, according to preliminary figures by the Singapore Tourism Board.^[2][25] The total number of visitors increased by 3.3% from 2018, with increased in arrivals in visitors from China, Indonesia and Australia, while visitors from India and Malaysia dropped 2% and 3% respectively.^[2] Tourism receipts increased 2.8% from 2018, with most visitors spending in the sightseeing, entertainment and gaming (S$1,593 million), shopping (S$1,457 million), accommodation (S$1,439 million) and food & beverage (S$649 million) categories.^[2]

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitor statistics in Singapore fell 85.7% and tourism receipts fell 82.6% (S$4.8 million) from 2019.^[26] A total of 2,700,000 visitors were recorded that year, which was the first time visitor statistics fell since the decrease in arrivals in 2014.^[26] Visitors coming into Singapore for short-term visits were also barred from entering and transiting from March 23, 2020, to October 19, 2021.^[27]