Indian tourists drive luxury spending boom in Singapore amid global slowdown
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Tourists from India are among the biggest spenders on luxury goods in Singapore, helping the city-state’s high-end retail sector resist a global slowdown in premium consumption, according to industry bodies and official data.
Indian tourists spent SGD 812.17 million in Singapore in the first half of 2025, a 4.40 per cent increase from the same period last year, figures from the Singapore Tourism Board showed.
The Orchard Road Business Association said Indian travellers are now one of Singapore’s most commercially important visitor groups. ORBA chairman Mark Shaw said Indian tourists are playing a key role in lifting luxury spending, especially along Orchard Road, the country’s main high-end shopping belt.
Indian visitors also tend to stay longer, with an average trip lasting 6.3 days. Shaw said longer stays translate into higher discretionary spending across shopping, dining, entertainment, attractions, and accommodation. He was speaking amid rising footfalls at Orchard Road’s Christmas Market and Village during the year-end festive season.
Experts noted that tourists from China and Indonesia are also contributing to the resilience of Singapore’s luxury market, even as global demand weakens.
Data showed that Indian arrivals reached 1.03 million in the first 10 months of 2025, up 2.6 per cent year on year. Overall, Singapore received 14.25 million visitors during the January to October period, an increase of 2.5 per cent.
The Mastercard Economics Institute’s 2024 Travel Trends report said India’s growing affluent population is increasingly seeking luxury experiences, jewellery, and high-end fashion, driven by rising incomes and aspirational lifestyles.
Market research firm Euromonitor International expects Singapore to be among the few major tourism hubs to record growth in luxury sales this year. It projects luxury spending in the country to rise by 7 to 9 per cent to around SGD 13.9 billion in 2025, outperforming regional rivals such as China and Japan.
The growth is also supported by Singapore’s expanding wealthy population. A UBS wealth report released on December 4 said the city-state is home to 55 billionaires and a rising number of high-net-worth individuals.
Global luxury brands, including Prada and Van Cleef & Arpels, have stepped up their presence along Orchard Road, especially around hotels and shopping complexes, to capitalise on increased visitor traffic during the festive season.
The annual Orchard Road Christmas Light-Up, ranked among the world’s top five, continues to be a major draw, featuring decorative displays, snowfall shows, markets, live performances, and street events. Orchard Road remains one of Singapore’s two main shopping districts, attracting leading global luxury brands.