Celebrating Singapore’s unsung heroes, plus more stories for National Day

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, we commemorate the 59th National Day of Singapore. Majulah Singapura!

Singapore’s heartland heroes: Celebrating the unsung heroes that make our estates home

In the vibrant tapestry of Singapore’s neighbourhoods, countless unsung heroes quietly make a difference every day. PropertyGuru Singapore’s latest campaign for National Day 2024, Heartland Heroes, is dedicated to celebrating these local champions and their remarkable contributions.

Let’s spotlight the personalities and hidden gems that define each community. This initiative not only honours their invaluable efforts but also fosters a deeper sense of local pride among residents, allowing them to see and appreciate the true spirit of their neighbourhoods. Join us as we embark on a journey to recognize and celebrate the real stars of Singapore’s heartlands.

Look out for these familiar faces in a neighbourhood near you.

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to strengthen digitalisation

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins to optimise vessel route planning to enhance safety and reduce emissions in maritime operations. The aim is to achieve just-in-time arrivals to reduce the turnaround times for vessels in port.

It has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft.

According to iTNews Asia, the focus lies on technologies including cloud computing, AI, data analytics, robotics, and cybersecurity to develop digital and green solutions for the maritime industry.

Commentary: When will tourist arrivals in Singapore fully recover?

Passenger traffic at Singapore’s Changi Airport is now virtually at pre-COVID levels. The airport handled 33.01 million passengers in the first half of 2024, representing a 99.3 percent recovery compared with the 33.23 million passengers handled in the first half of 2019.

However, visitor arrivals were only 92.6 percent recovered, with 6.64 million arriving at Changi between January and June compared with 7.17 million in the same period in 2019.

The Taylor Swift concerts in March provided a welcome boost to Singapore’s tourism sector, with visitor arrivals at Changi nearly matching those of March 2019 at a 99.9 percent recovery. However, as soon as Swifties left, this temporary high faded. In the second quarter, the recovery rate slipped to 88.5 percent, down from 96.7 percent in the first quarter.

According to CNA, June was a particularly weak month for tourism in Singapore, with visitor arrivals at Changi 85.3 percent recovered compared with the same month in 2019. This is a concerning trend highlighting the challenges facing Singapore’s tourism sector, particularly in months without big events, as the cost of holidaying in Singapore skyrockets.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].