UK Tourism Market Research: Singapore
At a glance
- UK received 142,000 visits from Singapore in 2024, generating £189.5 million in total visitor expenditure.
- Average spend per Singaporean visitor to UK was £1,335 in 2024, according to International Passenger Survey data.
- Direct air capacity from Singapore to UK reached 101% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 2025.
- Three British airports serve direct routes from Singapore: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Manchester International.
- Globally, Singaporeans made 11.0 million outbound visits in 2025 with US$33.31 billion total international tourism expenditure.
What the report covers
VisitBritain publishes market-level inbound tourism data for key source markets, using International Passenger Survey (IPS) data collected by the UK Office for National Statistics. This brief covers Singapore visitor arrivals to the UK in 2024, including volume, spend, length of stay, transport connectivity, and broader global outbound travel context for 2025. The data supports destination marketing and industry planning.
Key findings
The UK welcomed 142,000 visits from Singapore in 2024, generating £189.5 million in total expenditure. This equates to an average spend of £1,335 per visit, according to the International Passenger Survey. The data provides the baseline for tracking Singaporean visitor contribution to UK inbound tourism.
Air transport dominates access routes: 95% of Singaporean visitors to Britain in 2024 arrived by air. As of 2025, direct flights connect Singapore Changi Airport to three UK airports—London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Manchester International—with 61 weekly departures and 20,378 weekly seat capacity on direct routes.
Capacity recovery has reached pre-pandemic levels. Direct seat capacity from Singapore to the UK had recovered to 101% of 2019 capacity by 2025, indicating restored connectivity and potential for sustained or growing visitor flows from this market.
Singapore ranks as the 11th-largest source of international tourism expenditure globally, with outbound visitors making 11.0 million trips in 2025 and spending US$33.31 billion internationally. Malaysia is the most popular destination for Singaporean outbound tourists, with France the most visited Western European destination.
Key numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Visits from Singapore to UK in 2024 | 142,000 |
| Total expenditure by Singaporean visitors to UK in 2024 | £189.5 million |
| Average spend per visit to UK | £1,335 |
| Percentage arriving by air | 95% |
| Weekly direct aircraft departures Singapore to UK | 61 |
| Weekly seat capacity on direct routes | 20,378 |
| Direct seat capacity vs. 2019 pre-pandemic levels | 101% |
| Singapore global rank for international tourism expenditure | 11th |
Figures as published in the source; forecasts and survey results are labelled as such in the note.
Why it matters
DMOs & destinations
Singapore ranks 11th globally for outbound tourism spend (US$33.31 billion in 2025). With 142,000 UK visits in 2024 and £1,335 average spend, this market represents significant revenue opportunity. Restored air connectivity and strong capacity indicate readiness to capture growth through targeted marketing in Southeast Asia's affluent, high-value traveller segment.
Hotels & hospitality
Singaporean visitors deliver high per-visit expenditure (£1,335 average) and arrive primarily by air to London and Manchester hubs. Understanding length-of-stay patterns, seasonal demand, and regional spread (available via VisitBritain visualisations) enables operators to optimise inventory, pricing, and service offerings for this premium, stable inbound segment.
Travel tech & distribution
Air capacity from Singapore has recovered to 101% of pre-pandemic levels across three UK airports, with 61 weekly departures. This connectivity growth and consistent visitor volume create distribution opportunities for GDS platforms, metasearch, and online travel agencies targeting affluent Asia-Pacific consumers booking UK accommodation and experiences.
Methodology and limits
Data derives primarily from the International Passenger Survey (IPS), conducted by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS). The 2024 figures are designated 'official statistics in development' and remain subject to methodology refinements. VisitBritain supplementes IPS data with sources including Oxford Economics, UNWTO, Apex, and Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index. The ONS does not endorse 2024 comparisons with prior years. Air connectivity data reflects scheduled routes as of 2025; global outbound figures are 2025 estimates.
Official source
The report is © VisitBritain. This brief is an original editorial summary by TourismIntel — it quotes only figures published in the source and never reproduces the document.
Check the official statistics on Pulse
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