Is Singapore too hot, boring and expensive?

Making the outdoor experience more pleasant

What is Singapore's edge over Asian cities?

Targeting 'quality tourism' in 2040 roadmap

Loosening control for emotional resonance

Booming arrivals, stubborn humidity – but dull and overpriced? Hardly. STB’s Jean Ng and Expedia’s Matin Mohdari make the case for a more nuanced Singapore story.

Singapore’s tourism pitch is not just about selling its picture-perfect skyline; it’s also about showcasing its rich multiculturalism, leaning into its talent in hosting world-class events, and taking visitors on a journey to discover how a young nation is defining its own identity. 

Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

In this episode of In Your Opinion, senior columnist Tan Dawn Wei speaks with Ms Jean Ng, Assistant Chief Executive of Experience Development at the Singapore Tourism Board, and Mr Matin Mohdari, Head of Public Policy for Southeast and South Asia at online travel company Expedia Group about Chinese traveller sentiment, events as demand drivers, cooling the city, and how AI could reshape tourism by 2040.

They unpack 2025 performance, why “hot, boring, expensive” perceptions among some Chinese travellers matter, and how STB is adjusting for younger, social-media-led free-and-easy visitors through partnerships, IP, and precinct storytelling. 

The conversation also looks at practical ways to soften the tropical heat, what Singapore offers versus rival Asian cities, and the balance between premium experiences and everyday affordability. 

Finally, they explore Tourism 2040 – the roadmap to hitting between $47 and $50 billion in tourism receipts by then – and how AI can boost productivity behind the scenes, while keeping the human stories that make a place emotionally resonant. 

Read more: https://str.sg/okfhy

Highlights (click/tap above): 

2:54 “Too hot, too boring, too expensive”

13:14 Singapore can’t change its climate, but it can make the outdoor experience more enjoyable

16:54 Singapore’s edge over other Asian cities

24:48 Going after “quality tourism” in Singapore’s Tourism 2040 roadmap

38:10 What Singapore needs to loosen control over to be emotionally resonant

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Dawn's columns: https://str.sg/3xR7

Host: Tan Dawn Wei (dawntan@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast 

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#inyouropinion

Booming arrivals, stubborn humidity &ndash; but dull and overpriced? Hardly. STB&rsquo;s Jean Ng and Expedia&rsquo;s Matin Mohdari make the case for a more nuanced Singapore story.
Singapore&rsquo;s tourism pitch is not just about selling its picture-perfect skyline; it&rsquo;s also about showcasing its rich multiculturalism, leaning into its talent in hosting world-class events, and taking visitors on a journey to discover how a young nation is defining its own identity.&nbsp;
Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
In this episode of In Your Opinion, senior columnist Tan Dawn Wei speaks with Ms Jean Ng, Assistant Chief Executive of Experience Development at the Singapore Tourism Board, and Mr Matin Mohdari, Head of Public Policy for Southeast and South Asia at online travel company Expedia Group about Chinese traveller sentiment, events as demand drivers, cooling the city, and how AI could reshape tourism by 2040.
They unpack 2025 performance, why &ldquo;hot, boring, expensive&rdquo; perceptions among some Chinese travellers matter, and how STB is adjusting for younger, social-media-led free-and-easy visitors through partnerships, IP, and precinct storytelling.&nbsp;
The conversation also looks at practical ways to soften the tropical heat, what Singapore offers versus rival Asian cities, and the balance between premium experiences and everyday affordability.&nbsp;
Finally, they explore Tourism 2040 &ndash; the roadmap to hitting between $47 and $50 billion in tourism receipts by then &ndash; and how AI can boost productivity behind the scenes, while keeping the human stories that make a place emotionally resonant.&nbsp;
Read more: <a href="https://str.sg/okfhy">https://str.sg/okfhy</a>
Highlights (click/tap above):&nbsp;
2:54 &ldquo;Too hot, too boring, too expensive&rdquo;
13:14 Singapore can&rsquo;t change its climate, but it can make the outdoor experience more enjoyable
16:54 Singapore&rsquo;s edge over other Asian cities
24:48 Going after &ldquo;quality tourism&rdquo; in Singapore&rsquo;s Tourism 2040 roadmap
38:10 What Singapore needs to loosen control over to be emotionally resonant
Read ST&rsquo;s Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a>
Read Dawn's columns: <a href="https://str.sg/3xR7">https://str.sg/3xR7</a>
Host: Tan Dawn Wei (<a href="mailto:dawntan@sph.com.sg">dawntan@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-stringify-link="https://www.awedio.sg" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
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Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-stringify-link="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
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#inyouropinion

A hard look at the social issues of the month in Singapore. Join ST journalists and other guests as they discuss with Lydia Wong.

Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.