KUCHING: Visitor arrivals from Singapore to Sarawak hit a historic high last year, with a total of 64,295 visitors recorded, making it the highest-ever from the republic and underscoring Singapore’s importance as one of Sarawak’s key tourism markets.
According to the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS), the figure represents a 5.8 per cent year-on-year increase compared to 59,793 arrivals in 2024.
Based on an estimated average expenditure of RM3,500 per visitor, Singaporean travellers contributed about RM225 million in tourism receipts to Sarawak last year.
STATOS said the year-on-year growth alone generated an additional RM15.7 million for the state economy, benefiting businesses across the hospitality, retail and transportation sectors.
The figures, however, do not include expatriates residing in Singapore, indicating that the actual economic impact could be significantly higher.
STATOS chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani said the record-breaking performance reflected Sarawak’s growing appeal among Singaporean travellers.
“Reaching this historic high is a testament to the dedication of our team and the rich, diverse experiences Sarawak offers.
“An increase of over 4,500 visitors year-on-year demonstrates that Sarawak is not just a destination, but a preferred choice for Singaporeans seeking meaningful, accessible and high-quality travel experiences, especially for weekend getaways,” he said in a statement.
Beyond leisure travel, STATOS reported strong progress in education tourism in 2025, having secured international and public school groups from Singapore for educational trips to Sarawak.
These initiatives generated more than RM2 million in revenue, surpassing initial targets and reinforcing Sarawak’s position as a destination for experiential learning.
STATOS also played a facilitative role in linking Sarawak agencies with Singapore’s education sector, including discussions on joint projects, industrial attachments and academic collaborations.
Overall, STATOS said its efforts in 2025 strengthened Sarawak’s positioning in the Singapore market across education tourism, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), niche travel segments, trade engagement and destination branding.
The office attributed the strong performance to an integrated marketing approach combining digital and traditional outreach.
These included media partnerships with Mediacorp MeWatch TV and major radio stations, an extensive social media campaign generating over 100 million video views, support for more than 250 companies in bridging trade and tourism opportunities, as well as the development of niche segments such as halal tourism.
A major boost came from the Sarawak MEGA Fair 2025 held at Suntec City, Singapore, in October. The event showcased Sarawak’s culture and commerce, recording the sale of over 8,000 authentic Sarawak food items and reaching more than 50 million online viewers worldwide.
STATOS said the positive momentum coincides with strengthening bilateral ties, including the planned opening of the Consulate of Singapore in Sarawak, which is expected to further enhance travel facilitation and economic collaboration in the coming years.
