š¼ Brief Take: Singaporeās āNo Dramaā Premium
Singapore aims to lure visitors with concerts, business conferences and live events.
For event organizers, security is usually the least of their worries and they have a reasonable level of assurance that things will get done in the city-state.
Singaporeās challenge will be to convince tourists that staying longer will give them bang for their buck.
Singapore is more expensive than other Southeast Asian cities, so itās using world-class attractions, business conferences and live events to attract visitors, CNBC reported on 17 March 2025.
Evelineās Take:
š„ Singaporeās premium is being no drama. For event organizers, security is usually the least of their worries and they have a reasonable level of assurance that things will get done in the city-state.
š¹ Neighbouring cities may have to up their game if they want to compete with Singapore in the concerts or events space. Some cops in Jakarta were accused of extorting attendees ā including foreign tourists ā at a music festival in December 2024, forcing Indonesiaās Tourism Minister and the organizer to issue public apologies.
š² However, Singapore has an image worldwide as an expensive destination. When I was travelling in Central Asia and Eastern Europe last year, some of the people I met there said they would love to visit Singapore, but were discouraged by the perceived costs.
š The New York Timesā ā36 Hours in Singaporeā offers a range of food options, including fried kway teow (a local noodle dish) for as low as SGD 4 a plate. Singapore is not just Sentosa or Marina Bay Sands, which can be out of reach for some pockets. Kampong Glam, Chinatown and Little India offer a glimpse of the local culture, while Botanic Gardens and MacRitchie Reservoir are free spots to enjoy nature.
šļø Some islands in the region ā such as Indonesiaās Ceningan, Vietnamās Phu Quoc and the Philippinesā Boracay ā are drawing more tourists with their beauty and cheaper costs. Recognizing the perception that Singapore is expensive, the Singapore Tourism Board is reportedly trying to show that tourists can cover more grounds and get value for money with the efficient public transport.
š¢ Singapore has a strong status as a business and concert hub thatās unlikely to change in the near term. Travellers to Southeast Asia may also visit a few destinations in one trip so itās not a zero-sum game. Singaporeās challenge will be to convince these tourists that staying longer in the city-state will give them bang for their buck.