Partnering with the Singapore Tourism Board to Promote Tourism Recovery

Today, Airbnb Experiences and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced a strategic partnership to co-promote and grow a range of unique, authentic Airbnb Experiences hosted by passionate locals on the Airbnb Experiences platform. 

The partnership sees Airbnb Experiences and STB focusing on developing Singapore Experiences in line with evolving tourism needs and preferences, co-marketing destination Singapore to stay top-of-mind amongst global audiences and facilitating data and knowledge exchange towards tourism recovery. 

As part of this agreement, Airbnb Experiences and STB will join hands to showcase the range of unique and authentic Singapore Online Experiences on the Airbnb platform with the launch of Singapore Virtual Trips, a dedicated home page featuring a collection of Online Experiences hosted by iconic Singapore tourism industry partners. This first-of-its-kind destination page will also provide compelling Singapore destination content, offering international travelers an opportunity to explore the country virtually during this challenging period. 

Singapore Virtual Trips features a wide array of unique Online Experiences, including  a sustainability-themed tour at Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest, a virtual visit to Peranakan home museum ‘The Intan’ with owner Alvin Yapp, an interactive bingo tour of the one-north tech precinct by Monster Day Tours, and a behind-the-scenes peek into the rich history of the Old Kallang Airport with Jerome Lim, founder of heritage website The Long and Winding Road. More tourism industry partners are expected to join this initiative following this first wave of Online Experiences.

This partnership will encourage Singapore tourism businesses to take their products online, as the industry reimagines the future of tourism. 

“This is an exciting new way for Gardens by the Bay to continue to delight people, enabling us to  connect with friends and fans around the world. I look forward to sharing my passion for our Cloud Forest and helping virtual visitors rediscover the region’s most extraordinary cooled conservatory through this unique virtual format.”   

Chad Davis, Deputy Director of the Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay and Online Experience host

Beyond Online Experiences, both parties will also collaborate in the future to onboard unique and authentic in-person Airbnb Experiences across various categories, including dining, nature, wellness, and the arts. The partnership also aims to help local entrepreneurs leverage the economic benefits of experience-driven travel, by providing them with opportunities to share their passions and interests and connecting them with travelers who are interested in Singapore. 

Given ongoing international travel restrictions, the partnership aims to showcase Singapore as a destination amongst consumers worldwide, leveraging both Airbnb Experiences and STB’s strong brand images and global reach. Both parties will jointly produce a lineup of co-branded content featuring Destination Singapore and Airbnb Experiences, to be served across their respective platforms and channels. 

STB and Airbnb Experiences also plan to make this content available to travel industry partners via STB’s Tourism Information and Services Hub (TIH) and will work towards extending destination information, tools and benefits to Airbnb Experiences guests  – such as exclusive offers unlocked through sign-ups for the VisitSingapore app.

Airbnb Experiences and STB will mutually share insights and best practices to grow Experience offerings in Singapore in line with tourism recovery efforts. To kick start this, Airbnb Experiences has invited STB to access their City Portal, a first-of-its-kind data-sharing platform built exclusively for governments and tourism organizations to equip them with travel insights and other relevant resources. 

“Healthy travel is travel that keeps the economics local and is authentic to the culture of the destination. In the context of seeking to support such healthy travel, we are excited to be partnering with the Singapore Tourism Board to promote experiential travel in one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic communities. I have personally enjoyed Airbnb’s Singaporean cooking Experiences and know that such Experiences unlock new ways to discover Singapore through its greatest natural resource – its people. And it is through using the Airbnb platform to showcase the incredible people of Singapore to the world that, working in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, we can help support the recovery of international tourism.”

Chris Lehane, Senior Vice President, Policy and Communications, Airbnb

“STB’s partnership with Airbnb Experiences is a timely one. As travel gradually resumes, we want to focus on strengthening Singapore’s brand image in the minds of audiences around the world, and ensure that our destination remains top-of-mind,” said Keith Tan, Chief Executive, STB. “This partnership will also give passionate Singapore hosts a world-leading platform to reach out to quality travelers globally, while helping them innovate and explore new business models. We are excited about working with Airbnb, and look forward to breaking new ground together.”

Partnering with the Singapore Tourism Board  is part of Airbnb’s work with governments and tourism agencies to support economic growth as destinations around the world seek to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. By working with destination marketing organizations, nonprofits and governments to support responsible and safe travel, Airbnb is helping communities harness these economic benefits for local citizens and small businesses. 

Discover Singapore Virtual Trips, a new collection of Online Experiences powered by Airbnb Experiences and STB here