Following the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) powerhouse presentation at the Tourism Industry Conference (TIC) on May 8, 2026, the strategic direction for the second half of 2026 has officially arrived. The announcement further solidifies the Tourism 2040 roadmap, envisioning Singapore as a world-class destination offering inspiring experiences and a vibrant home cherished by locals. 

Please find the press release and high-res assets HERE. 

Recap and Forecast:

• Singapore’s tourism sector hit a record S$32.8 billion in 2025 receipts, bolstered by 16.9 million international visitors. This momentum was fueled by Changi Airport’s historic 70 million passenger movements and record cruise traffic exceeding two million.
• STB projects between 17-18 million arrivals and S$31-32.5 billion in receipts for 2026. An additional S$740 million injection into the Tourism Development Fund is planned over the next five years. The funding aims to elevate Singapore’s positioning as a global hub for people, capital and trade; a world-class city and an endearing home; and a home for resilient businesses with strong human capital.

L to R: Redevelopment of Tanglin Shopping Centre (artist’s impression 2; credit: Pacific Eagle Real Estate) and Grange Road Events Venue (artist’s impression 1; credit: Live Nation)

Upcoming initiatives from Orchard Road to Sentosa and Cruise Ships (media fact sheet here):

• Orchard Road Rejuvenation Plan: Launching in mid-2026, the initiative will fund a series of stakeholder projects across three areas: Interactive and artistic building façades, experiential concepts and artwork installations, and night-time initiatives such as illumination projections, night markets, and extended opening hours. Additionally, new pop-up spaces for quality brands will be developed in the precinct, while artistic landmarks (creative precinct markers to guide visitor exploration) and unique design-led Orchard Road Benches will be introduced to enhance the visitor experience. The initiative is open to stakeholders such as mall operators, hotel operators, event organisers and associations, and will run for two years.
• Grange Road Events Venue: As Live Nation’s first event venue in Singapore, in partnership with Lendlease Global Commercial REIT and supported by STB, the 3,000-capacity venue in the Somerset sub-precinct will host a regular lineup of events, including concerts, international tours, community activities etc. Its programming will also align with major STB-led initiatives, such as Grand Prix Season Singapore and Christmas on a Great Street.
• 37 Emerald Hill: The former Singapore Chinese Girls’ School site will be transformed into a mixed-use development, featuring a unique hotel concept alongside distinctive lifestyle experiences, community and public spaces that pay tribute to the site’s rich heritage.
• NoMad Hotel: The former Faber House has been redeveloped into Asia Pacific’s first NoMad luxury lifestyle hotel under Hilton in the heart of Orchard Road, set to open by the end of 2026. In addition to the hotel, the development will feature a curated selection of F&B options and a new public space.
• Somerset Belt: In 2H 2027, Somerset Belt will be transformed into a vibrant youth precinct that features four interconnected zones: Youth Park as “The Living Room” for community gathering, Incubation Nexus as “The Ideas Market” for youth creativity and innovation, Skate Park for active urban sports, and Somerset Slopes offering green space for quiet reflection and connection.
• Istana Park Expansion: Dhoby Ghaut will be transformed into a family-friendly green oasis. A 500-metre stretch of Orchard Road will be pedestrianised to better integrate Istana Park with the Istana entrance and commercial establishments. The newly expanded park will be three times its current size, with a nature playgarden, an open lawn and an activity promenade to hold events.
• Greater Sentosa Master Plan: Comprising Sentosa and Pulau Brani, the area will be developed over the next two decades into a world-class tourism destination. Spanning 120 hectares, it will create space for new hotels, attractions and experiences, while preserving the island’s natural elements.
• Cruise Tourism: Singapore Cruise Centre at HarbourFront will relocate to a new purpose-built facility, set to open on July 15, 2026, featuring a dedicated VIP lounge for premium travellers and an automated baggage handling system.

Entertainment (media fact sheet here): 

STB has inked three memoranda of understanding (MOUs) – Weixin Pay, Universal Music Singapore and Mr Romance. These strategic partnerships with international partners will strengthen Singapore’s standing as a premier destination and drive visitor spend by broadening STB’s global marketing outreach.

• Weixin Pay: Building on the success of the earlier collaboration to further enhance Singapore’s appeal and accessibility for Chinese visitors, the strategic partnership is renewed for another three years,. 
• Universal Music Singapore (UMSG): to amplify Singapore’s appeal as a global destination through the power of music. The three-year partnership builds on STB’s previous successful collaborations with UMSG artistes, including Nick Jonas’s appearance at Singapore Art Week, OneRepublic’s social content exploring the inspiration behind their instrumental track ‘Singapore’, and Billie Eilish’s live performance filmed at Gardens by the Bay. 
• Mr. Romance: one of South Korea’s rising global content production companies, sets to bring extensive experience in international co-productions, having produced content for major streaming platforms including Disney+ to Apple TV+.

AI and Data Innovation (media fact sheet here): 

STB has launched two initiatives to drive new data and technological capabilities in tourism, guiding the industry in accelerating AI and data integration, enhancing productivity and visitor experience, and positioning Singapore to lead in the next era of travel. 

• The AI Playbook for Tourism includes a roadmap for tourism businesses to get started on their AI journey, to accelerate GenAI adoption and unlock new levels of productivity, global visibility, and operational cost savings.
• The Tcube Centre of Excellence serves as a one-stop resource hub where tourism businesses can access practical tools, data resources, and industry knowledge to drive digital transformation. 

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions): Singapore is developing a new Integrated Cruise and Ferry Terminal at Straits View, adjacent to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS), as part of the Greater Southern Waterfront development, alongside the Downtown MICE Hub. This strategic expansion aims to solidify Singapore’s position as a premier regional cruise gateway and global business events destination, seamlessly connecting maritime travel with world-class exhibition facilities and future lifestyle developments. Industry leaders and businesses can also expect a curated list of events, including Virtuoso Symposium & Virtuoso Impact Summit in May 2027, first-in-Asia events like Passenger Terminal Expo Asia 2026, Breakbulk Asia 2026, and the WCA Worldwide Conference 2027 as well as renewable energy and sustainability events like the Recharge Wind Power Summit Asia-Pacific powered by WindEnergy Hamburg, Innovate4Climate etc.

If you are interested in a brief follow-up with the Singapore Tourism Board spokesperson about how these new initiatives will enhance the experience for travellers, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we can arrange accordingly.