Singapore travel to Japan hits record high on strong SGD in 2024: Mastercard

Travellers from Singapore, India, and China are especially responsive to currency shifts, the report noted.

Singaporean travel to Japan surged to record levels in 2024, driven in part by a favourable exchange rate that saw the Singapore dollar rise 40% against the Japanese yen, according to Mastercard’s Travel Trends 2025 report.

The report, released by the Mastercard Economics Institute, highlighted shifting travel behaviours across Asia-Pacific, with Singapore emerging as a key player in regional tourism dynamics.

Asia-Pacific destinations dominate global travel demand heading into the 2025 summer season, accounting for eight of the world’s top 15 trending locations. Tokyo and Osaka top the global list, whilst Nha Trang in Vietnam makes its debut due to rising popularity amongst international tourists.

Travellers from Singapore, India, and China are especially responsive to currency shifts, the report noted. A weaker yen, for instance, has helped boost Japan’s inbound tourism, with a 1% depreciation of the yen against the Chinese yuan leading to a 1.5% increase in Chinese visitors.

For Singapore, the strength of the SGD contributed to higher travel volumes to Japan, despite rising airfare and accommodation costs.

Experiential travel is also on the rise across the region. Dining, wellness, and nature are now more important to travelers than traditional sightseeing, according to the Mastercard Wellness Trend Index.

Thailand and New Zealand rank high for self-care and eco-tourism, whilst culinary hotspots such as Gianyar in Bali and Queenstown in New Zealand attract global interest.

India and China remain the region’s major outbound markets, with Indian travellers particularly active in destinations like Abu Dhabi, Hanoi, and Bali, supported by direct flight growth and a rising middle class.

The report also noted an increase in sports-related tourism, with events like the Australian Open and the Baseball World Series drawing large international audiences.

A notable example was a 91% rise in spending by Japanese visitors during Shohei Ohtani’s World Series debut in Los Angeles.

In terms of business travel, the data suggested a shift toward fewer but longer trips, particularly amongst US-based travellers to Asia-Pacific, whose average trip length increased from 8.8 to 10.2 days.

Mastercard flagged a rise in travel-related fraud, which can spike by as much as 28% during peak seasons in major tourist spots. The company emphasized its use of AI tools and digital wallets to improve travel safety and reduce fraud exposure.

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