STB Suspends Sunshine Tours and Travel: Compliance Crackdown 2026

Published on January 1, 2026

As Singapore rang in the New Year of 2026, the local travel industry received a stern reminder of the importance of regulatory compliance. On December 31, 2025, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) officially suspended the license of Sunshine Tours and Travel, a move that highlights the board’s increasingly vigilant oversight of the travel sector.

This suspension isn’t an isolated incident but part of a broader year-end enforcement sweep designed to safeguard consumer interests and maintain the integrity of Singapore’s tourism landscape.

The Paperwork Pitfall: Why the Suspension Happened

For many travelers, “audited accounts” and “business profile returns” sound like dry corporate jargon. However, to the STB, these documents are the “heartbeat monitors” of a travel agency’s health.

Sunshine Tours and Travel failed to submit two critical items: its Audited Statement of Accounts (AA) and its Annual Business Profile Returns (ABPR). According to the Travel Agents Regulations 2017, these must be filed within six months of the end of a company’s financial year.

When an agency fails to submit these, it creates a “black box” scenario where the regulator cannot verify if the business is financially stable enough to handle your hard-earned vacation money. In an industry where customers often pay months in advance for flights and tours, transparency is the only currency that matters.

What Happens to Current Bookings?

If you have already booked a trip with Sunshine Tours and Travel, there is no need to panic—but you should stay informed. The terms of the STB suspension are very clear: The agency must fulfill all its existing obligations to customers.

This means that if you have a tour scheduled for late January or a flight booked for the Lunar New Year, the agency is legally required to ensure those arrangements proceed as planned. What they cannot do is take your money for a new trip. Any agency caught accepting new bookings while under suspension faces even harsher enforcement actions, including the permanent revocation of their license.

A Broad Sweep: The December 2025 Crackdown

Sunshine Tours and Travel is not alone in its predicament. Just weeks earlier, on December 17, 2025, the STB announced the suspension of 10 other travel agencies for identical reasons. Names on that list included prominent players like Rayna Tours, ASAP International Travel, and Native Inc.

This “clean-up” reflects a post-2025 strategy by the STB to ensure that only the most administratively disciplined agencies remain operational. As the travel market in 2026 shifts toward more high-value and “intensive” experiences, the regulator is ensuring that the foundation of the industry—its travel agents—is rock solid.

How to Protect Yourself as a Traveler

While the STB does an excellent job of policing the market, travelers can take their own steps to ensure a stress-free holiday:

Check the TRUST System: Before booking, always visit the Travel Related Users’ System (TRUST) website at trust.stb.gov.sg. This is the most up-to-date directory of licensed travel agents in Singapore. If an agency’s name is flagged or missing, walk away.

Look for Red Flags: Agencies that offer “too-good-to-be-true” discounts but demand full payment via bank transfer rather than credit card can sometimes be a sign of cash-flow issues.

Travel Insurance is Mandatory: Always purchase travel insurance that specifically covers “Travel Agent Insolvency.” This ensures that even if an agency’s license is revoked, you aren’t left out of pocket.

The Human Element: Industry Under Pressure

It is important to remember that behind every suspension is a local business and a team of employees. For some agencies, the failure to submit documents isn’t a sign of fraud, but a symptom of administrative strain in a fast-paced recovery period.

However, as STB has repeatedly stated, they will not hesitate to take action to protect the “Passion Made Possible” brand. A travel agency that cannot manage its paperwork is seen as a risk to the reputation of the entire Lion City.