E-Visa, Short Flights: Why 1.2 Million Indians Visited Singapore In 2025

Singapore recorded another year of steady growth in 2025, and India remained one of its strongest visitor markets. More than 1.2 million Indians travelled to Singapore last year, a slight increase of around 1% from 2024. The rise contributed to the city-state's overall 16.9 million international visitor arrivals, reflecting continued global interest in Singapore as a short-haul getaway and events hub.

Tourism receipts continued their upward climb through the first nine months of 2025. Singapore collected S$23.9 billion in global tourism receipts during this period - the highest ever for these three quarters and a 6.5% uptick over 2024. Indian travellers contributed S$1.17 billion, marking a 5% year-on-year rise.

A Milestone Year For India-Singapore Relations

The year 2025 marked 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, strengthening engagement across tourism and business travel.

A major highlight was the Singapore Tourism Board's 'Just Between Us Friends' year-long campaign, launched in January 2025. It brought together airlines, travel agencies, payment partners and shopping destinations to offer exclusive deals for Indian travellers.

The campaign also extended to the MICE sector, offering special privileges for Indian incentive groups travelling between August 2025 and March 2026. Sun Pharma brought more than 6,000 employees to Singapore in 2025, making it the largest-ever corporate incentive movement from India.

UPI Payments Now Accepted Widely In Singapore

In a move that eased travel for Indians, Singapore enabled UPI payments across more than 130,000 merchants, including duty-free stores at Changi Airport. The rollout followed a partnership between STB and NPCI International, giving Indian visitors access to familiar, seamless payment options.

Also Read: Flying To Singapore? A New Travel Rule May Stop You From Boarding The Flight

Singapore Tourism Board Signs First MoU With An Indian Airline

In July 2025, the Singapore Tourism Board signed its first-ever MoU with an Indian airline - IndiGo. The year-long partnership aims to boost connectivity from India's secondary cities and promote Singapore's varied travel experiences.

Full Ticket Refund In Case Of Rejected Visa Application

For direct flights originating from India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, Singapore Airlines offers passengers a full ticket refund, with the cancellation fee waived, if their visa application is rejected. Supporting documents are required, and the refund is subject to the airline's approval.

Such policies provide travellers from the above-mentioned countries with greater financial reassurance and flexibility, encouraging more visitors to consider Singapore without the worry of losing money before their trip even begins.

E-Visa For Indians Makes Travel Easier

The Singapore e-Visa system streamlines the travel process for Indian citizens, offering a fully online application with approvals typically issued within 3-5 working days. The digital process removes the need for physical paperwork, making the experience faster and more convenient for travellers.

For those applying for a Singapore Tourist Visa, the permitted stay is up to 30 days, with the visa remaining valid for two months. Business travellers can also stay for a maximum of 30 days during the validity of their Singapore Business Visa.

What Opened In 2025: New Attractions Across Singapore

Several new experiences enriched Singapore's tourism landscape in 2025:

• Rainforest Wild, Asia's first adventure-based zoological park and Singapore's fifth wildlife attraction
• Curiosity Cove, the country's largest indoor playscape, with over 30 features
• Jurassic World: The Experience at Gardens by the Bay
• Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa

Existing favourites also received upgrades, including a refreshed Chinatown Heritage Centre, an expanded SuperPark, and a renewed Time Capsule experience at the Singapore Flyer.

^{Sentosa Island Beach Resort in Singapore. Photo: Pexels}

Cruise And Hospitality Expansions

Singapore continued to strengthen its position as a cruise hub, welcoming new homeported ships, including Star Voyager, Ovation of the Seas, and Luminara from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

The hospitality scene saw notable openings, including Raffles Sentosa Singapore, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree, The Laurus at Resorts World Sentosa, Mett Singapore, and Mama Shelter, the brand's first outpost in Asia.

Also Read: Dubai vs Singapore, Which Is Better For A Quick Foreign Trip From India?

New Experiences Travellers Can Look Forward To In 2026

The outlook for 2026 remains strong, with several new experiences and major global acts scheduled:

• BTS is returning for a four-night stop, their longest in Asia outside Korea and Japan
• Disney Cruise Line's first Asia homeport
• A new F1 sprint race format at the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix
• The second phase of Rainforest Wild at Mandai
• Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA returning
• The new Grange Road Events Space
• Fresh immersive concepts from AndSoForth
• Renewed STB-Disney partnerships, including the Children's Festival and Garden of Wonder