India–Singapore Travel Ties Strengthen as Indian Tourists Drive Luxury Spending Growth in Singapore

Published on December 15, 2025

A significant shift has been observed in the India–Singapore tourism corridor, as rising outbound travel from India has continued to reshape spending patterns in Southeast Asia’s most prominent travel hub. According to recent data released by the Singapore Tourism Board, strong momentum has been maintained by Indian tourists, who have emerged as some of the highest contributors to visitor expenditure in Singapore during 2025. The growing presence of Indian travellers has been closely linked to higher spending on luxury goods, premium experiences, and extended stays across the city-state. This trend has been particularly visible in key shopping and lifestyle districts, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a preferred destination for high-value tourism from India. With visitor numbers from India steadily increasing and average lengths of stay remaining above global norms, a sustained boost has been delivered to sectors such as retail, hospitality, dining, and entertainment. Within a broader global context marked by slowing luxury consumption, Singapore has stood out as an exception, supported in part by affluent travellers from India. The evolving travel behaviour of Indian visitors has therefore been viewed as a critical factor in Singapore’s tourism resilience and continued appeal as a luxury destination in Asia.

Indian Tourists Among Singapore’s Highest Spenders

It has been reported that Indian tourists spent SGD 812.17 million in Singapore during the first half of 2025. This figure has reflected a year-on-year increase of 4.40 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year. The data, provided by the Singapore Tourism Board, has highlighted the growing economic importance of visitors from India within Singapore’s tourism ecosystem. Spending has been distributed across luxury retail, accommodation, dining, attractions, and entertainment, indicating a preference for comprehensive travel experiences rather than short, budget-focused trips.

This spending growth has been observed at a time when many global destinations have been experiencing a slowdown in discretionary luxury purchases. Singapore’s ability to attract high-spending visitors from India has therefore been regarded as a stabilising influence for its tourism-driven economy. As travel demand from India has continued to rise, a dependable source of visitor revenue has been secured for Singapore’s premium sectors.

Orchard Road’s Retail Landscape Strengthened by Indian Visitors

The impact of Indian travel spending has been felt most strongly along Orchard Road, Singapore’s iconic shopping boulevard. Increased footfall has been recorded during the year-end festive period, particularly at the Orchard Road Christmas Market and Village. These seasonal attractions have benefited from higher visitor engagement, longer dwell times, and increased retail conversions.

The Orchard Road Business Association, which oversees the promotion and management of the district, has identified Indian travellers as one of the most commercially significant visitor groups. Alongside tourists from China and Indonesia, visitors from India have played a crucial role in offsetting the global slowdown in luxury retail spending. Their presence has supported both established global brands and experiential retail formats, reinforcing Orchard Road’s reputation as a premier shopping destination in Asia.

Longer Stays Driving Higher Overall Expenditure

A defining characteristic of Indian travel to Singapore has been the longer-than-average length of stay. Indian travellers have been recorded as staying an average of 6.3 days, a duration that has exceeded many other international markets. These extended visits have translated into higher discretionary spending across multiple tourism segments.

With more time spent in the destination, greater engagement has been observed in fine dining, cultural attractions, entertainment venues, and premium accommodation. This pattern has supported not only luxury retailers but also mid-to-high-end hospitality providers. As a result, the economic contribution of Indian tourists has extended well beyond shopping, benefiting the broader tourism value chain in Singapore.

Rising Affluence in India Fueling Luxury Travel

Insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute 2024 Travel Trends report have underscored the role of India’s expanding affluent population in driving outbound luxury travel. Growing disposable incomes and aspirational lifestyles have encouraged Indian consumers to seek high-end fashion, jewellery, and curated experiences abroad. Singapore, with its reputation for quality, safety, and global brands, has been well positioned to capture this demand.

Luxury travel from India has increasingly been associated with experiential value rather than conspicuous consumption. Preferences have shifted toward refined products, exclusive services, and understated premium offerings. This evolution has aligned closely with Singapore’s retail and tourism positioning, making the destination particularly attractive to discerning Indian travellers.

Visitor Arrivals from India Continue to Rise

In addition to strong spending, growth has also been recorded in visitor volumes. Indian arrivals in Singapore reached 1.03 million during the first ten months of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.6 per cent. During the same period, overall international arrivals stood at 14.25 million, marking a growth of 2.5 per cent.

These figures have demonstrated that India has remained one of Singapore’s most reliable and fast-growing source markets. The consistency of growth has provided confidence to tourism stakeholders, encouraging continued investment in infrastructure, marketing, and visitor experiences tailored to Indian travellers.

Singapore’s Luxury Market Defies Global Trends

According to projections by Euromonitor International, Singapore has been identified as one of the few major tourism hubs expected to register growth in luxury sales in 2025. Luxury spending in the city-state has been forecast to increase by 7 to 9 per cent, reaching approximately SGD 13.9 billion. This performance has been projected to outperform other prominent shopping destinations in the region, including China and Japan.

The growth has been attributed to a combination of affluent international visitors and a strong domestic base of high-net-worth individuals. Singapore has been reported to host 55 billionaires, as noted in a UBS wealth report released on December 4. This concentration of wealth has further supported the resilience of the luxury retail market.

Global Luxury Brands Expand Presence in Singapore

In response to heightened visitor activity, several global luxury brands, including Prada and Van Cleef & Arpels, have expanded their visibility along Orchard Road. Outdoor installations and festive displays have been introduced to attract attention and enhance brand engagement during peak travel periods. These initiatives have been strategically timed to coincide with increased arrivals from markets such as India.

The alignment of brand activity with tourism flows has reinforced Singapore’s image as a global luxury destination. Indian tourists, in particular, have been drawn to the convenience of accessing multiple premium brands within a compact and well-connected urban environment.

Orchard Road Christmas Light-Up as a Global Attraction

A major seasonal highlight has been the Orchard Road Christmas Light-Up, which has been ranked among the world’s top five festive displays. The event has featured decorative installations, snowfall shows, markets, live entertainment, and street festivities. As one of Singapore’s two primary shopping districts, Orchard Road has continued to attract leading global brands and international visitors during the festive season.

For travellers from India, the Christmas Light-Up has added experiential value to year-end trips, combining shopping with cultural and entertainment offerings. This integration of retail and leisure has strengthened Singapore’s appeal as a holistic travel destination rather than a purely transactional shopping stop.

Strengthening India–Singapore Tourism Relations

The sustained growth in spending and arrivals has highlighted the deepening tourism relationship between India and Singapore. As air connectivity, travel awareness, and disposable incomes in India continue to improve, further expansion in outbound travel to Singapore has been anticipated. The alignment of Singapore’s tourism offerings with Indian traveller preferences has positioned the destination to benefit from long-term growth.

With luxury, culture, and convenience forming the core of Singapore’s appeal, Indian tourists are expected to remain central to the city-state’s tourism success in the years ahead.