Tourist arrivals and spending dropped 6% in Q2: STB

Tourist shopping was hardest hit.

Data released today by the Singapore Tourism Board revealed that the country saw a 6% year-on-year drop in international visitor arrivals for the second quarter of the year.

There were 3.6 million tourists who visited the country in Q2. Tourism receipts slipped by 3% year-on-year to $5.6b, on back of lower shopping spending by Chinese, Malaysian, and Indonesian tourists.

Shopping recorded the poorest showing in the second quarter, registering a 19% year-on-year drop to $957m.

Meanwhile, the largest year-on-year increase was recorded by the sightseeing, entertainment and gaming segment, posting a 12% year-on-year increase to $1.47b.