By: TTW News Desk

Singapore has recorded the sharpest decline in travel interest from U.S. tourists across Southeast Asia, signaling a significant shift in American tourism patterns in the region. According to newly released travel trend data, factors such as rising costs, stricter regulations, and a perceived lack of novelty have contributed to the drop in U.S. demand for Singapore as a destination. In contrast, Vietnam and the Philippines are witnessing a surge in American travel interest, driven by their affordability, emerging beach destinations, rich cultural experiences, and relaxed visa policies. This evolving landscape highlights a growing preference among U.S. travelers for more immersive, budget-friendly, and off-the-beaten-path experiences in Asia.

Singaporeans are showing a sharp decline in interest toward traveling to the United States in 2025, signaling a significant shift in travel preferences across Southeast Asia. According to fresh findings from Milieu Insight’s “Asian Travel Demand for US” survey, carried out between late May and mid-June, only 7% of respondents in Singapore said they had increased interest in visiting the U.S. this year. In contrast, 55% said their interest had declined—marking the steepest drop among all Southeast Asian countries included in the study.

Across Southeast Asia, interest in traveling to the United States remains fairly steady, with 44% of respondents still eager to make the trip and just 18% reporting a decline in interest. However, Singapore sets itself apart with a much steeper drop. The data highlights a clear and growing hesitation among Singaporean travelers, who are increasingly choosing to leave the U.S. off their upcoming itineraries.

Safety Expectations Shape Travel Decisions

One of the leading factors behind this decline is personal safety. Singaporeans, who live in a country consistently ranked among the safest in the world, hold extremely high expectations when it comes to security while abroad. The United States, by contrast, continues to struggle with high-profile issues like mass shootings, violent crime, and unrest—creating a stark contrast that has made many Singaporeans rethink their travel plans.

Singapore’s internal safety standards play a major role in shaping outbound travel choices. With crime rates kept extremely low at home, travelers from the city-state are more likely to avoid destinations where public safety feels uncertain. In this context, the United States now faces growing scrutiny from Southeast Asia’s most security-conscious travelers.

Concerns Mount Over U.S. Firearm Policies and Border Control Issues

Concerns over gun laws are triggering serious unease among travelers. Frequent headlines about gun-related incidents and the lack of consistent firearm regulations across various U.S. states have heightened anxiety. For many in Singapore, the idea of traveling to a country where firearms are widely accessible—but public safety measures seem unreliable—feels increasingly unsettling.

Beyond gun-related concerns, U.S. immigration processes are also discouraging potential visitors. Even though Singaporeans enjoy one of the world’s most powerful passports—with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 countries and territories—many remain wary of entering the United States. According to the survey, only 60% of Singaporeans feel confident that their U.S. immigration experience would go smoothly. This figure sits far below the regional average of 78%, revealing that Singaporeans are more skeptical about how they will be received at American borders.

Past reports of extended questioning, profiling, and random checks have likely influenced these sentiments. Even travelers with clear documentation and valid travel reasons now hesitate, unsure of how they might be treated at customs or immigration checkpoints.

Discrimination and Policy Concerns Deepen Reluctance

Several other factors add to the apprehension. Singaporeans cite fears of racial discrimination, mistreatment based on appearance or background, and discomfort with current U.S. policy directions. Concerns include everything from rising hate crimes against Asians to systemic challenges in how foreigners are treated upon arrival.

The perception of the United States as a destination where foreign travelers may face hostility—whether from law enforcement, other travelers, or institutions—continues to grow. While many of these issues may be debated or interpreted differently across media sources, the end result remains clear: a growing number of Singaporeans no longer feel safe or welcome in the United States.

Cost and Visa Rules Less of a Barrier for Singaporeans

Interestingly, the usual obstacles of international travel—high costs and visa requirements—are not the primary issues for Singaporeans. As the holders of the most globally mobile passport and residents of a high-income nation, Singaporeans rarely face financial or administrative hurdles when planning long-haul trips. Their reasons for avoiding the U.S. are rooted more deeply in perceived safety risks and the possibility of negative experiences.

Unlike travelers from less economically secure countries who might weigh the price of travel more heavily, Singaporeans focus on the experience itself. They want travel to feel safe, welcoming, and enriching—and current sentiment suggests that the United States no longer meets those criteria for a significant number of them.

Divergent Regional Trends Highlight Contrast

Meanwhile, several other Southeast Asian countries are showing the opposite trend, with growing interest in traveling to the United States. According to the survey, 57% of respondents from Vietnam and 49% from the Philippines said their desire to visit the U.S. has increased compared to six months ago. Experts believe this rising interest may be influenced by the presence of large Vietnamese and Filipino communities already living in the U.S., which continue to strengthen personal, cultural, and family connections across borders.

This divergence highlights the unique outlook of Singaporeans, whose travel motivations and media consumption habits differ significantly from neighboring nations. Whereas citizens in many Southeast Asian countries rely primarily on social media for news—often filtered through influencers, memes, or viral headlines—Singaporeans still lean heavily on traditional news outlets, both domestic and international. This could shape a more cautionary and fact-driven view of world events, including travel risks.

Singapore has seen the sharpest drop in U.S. travel interest due to rising costs and stricter entry norms, while Vietnam and the Philippines are gaining momentum with affordable prices, relaxed visas, and growing appeal among American tourists seeking authentic, budget-friendly experiences.

The steep drop in Singaporean interest in U.S. travel underscores a deeper shift in how safety, immigration, and international relations now factor into travel decisions. While Americans once welcomed a steady stream of affluent, well-traveled visitors from Singapore, that flow is now slowing down, not because of economic reasons, but because of discomfort with what travelers may face once they land.

As global travel continues to rebound after pandemic disruptions, countries like the U.S. may need to do more than promote attractions and experiences—they must also rebuild trust and assure international travelers that they will be safe, respected, and treated fairly from the moment they arrive.