Tag: Singapore

Singapore Ranks as a Premier ‘Workation’ Destination, 2nd in Asia

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Singapore Ranks as a Premier ‘Workation’ Destination, 2nd in Asia

The Little Red Dot has earned its place among the world’s top ten best ‘workation’ destinations for hybrid workers, securing the seventh spot in the International Workplace Group’s (IWG) annual survey for 2024. Notably, Singapore ranks second in Asia, only trailing behind Beijing, which claimed the fourth spot on the global list.

Budapest topped IWG’s rankings for 2024, surpassing last year’s leader, Barcelona, which, along with Rio de Janeiro, claimed joint second place. Other cities rounding out the top 10 include Lisbon, New York, Jakarta, Los Angeles, and Milan.

Singapore made a remarkable leap in this year’s rankings, jumping from 21st place in 2023 to seventh. Several other Asian cities were also highlighted in the study, including Mumbai (14th), Manila (16th), and Hong Kong (19th).

According to IWG, Singapore’s rapid ascent can be attributed to its robust digital infrastructure and strong support for remote workers. “Hybrid workers will benefit from a thriving digital nomad community, bolstered by local government initiatives aimed at enhancing the city’s appeal to remote workers, such as city-wide 5G coverage and the introduction of a digital nomad visa,” said the global flexible workspace provider.

The IWG survey, now in its second year, evaluates cities on a range of factors, including climate, culture, accommodation, transportation, food and drink, happiness, broadband speed, and the availability of flexible workspace, scoring each city between 1 and 10.

Budapest, with a leading score of 75, was praised for its affordable accommodation, efficient transport system, fast broadband speeds, and extensive availability of flexible workspaces, making it the top destination for hybrid workers in 2024. Barcelona, with a score of 73.5, continues to be a prime ‘workation’ spot, supported by Spain’s comprehensive digital nomad visa, excellent transportation network, and relatively low cost of living.

Rio de Janeiro was also recognized for its affordability in accommodation, food, and transportation, combined with strong broadband speeds, making it a favorable destination for hybrid workers.

Mark Dixon, Founder and CEO of IWG, noted that the growing popularity of hybrid work is driven by advances in cloud technology, making it easier for workers to operate from anywhere. Dixon anticipates that this trend will continue to rise, with more companies adopting flexible working arrangements to attract top talent and enhance employees’ work-life balance.

The IWG study revealed that nearly 74% of hybrid workers consider a “work-from-anywhere” (WFA) policy a key factor when evaluating new job opportunities, with an equal number stating that such policies significantly boost their job satisfaction.

For more details, you can view the full article here.

Singapore now has the most powerful passport in the world

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Singapore now has the most powerful passport in the world

Singapore has the world’s most powerful passport in 2023. The recently released third quarter Henley Passport Index revealed a major shake-up, with Germany, Italy and Spain coming in second and Japan sharing the third rank with six other countries.

After evaluating all countries of the world, Henley creates a ranking of all the passports on the basis of the number of destinations their holders can visit visa-free with inputs from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), updating the report every quarter.

According to the release, Singapore passport holders get visa-free access to 192 countries out of 227 in the world. The nation has climbed over five ranks in the last ten years.

Just missing the top 10 mark, Malaysia made it to the 11th spot allowing passport holders to travel visa-free to 180 countries. Hong Kong shared the 17th spot with Andorra with visa-free access to 170 countries. Thailand ranked at 64th place with visa-free travel option for 79 countries. India took the 80th spot on the list with visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel option for 57 countries.

The weakest passport in the world is Afghanistan, with visa-free access to only 27 destinations.

The most powerful passports in the world, according to Henley Passport Index 2023.

RankVisa-free access toCountries
1192Singapore
2190Germany, Italy, Spain
3189Austria, Finland, France, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden
4188Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, UK
5187Belgium, Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland
6186Australia, Hungary, Poland
7185Canada, Greece
8184Lithuania, US
9183Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia
10182Estonia, Iceland
11180Liechtenstein, Malaysia
20166Brunei
6479Thailand, Belarus, Lesotho
6973Indonesia, Tanzania
7466Philippines, Armenia, Cape Verde Islands
82 55Cambodia, Vietnam, Guinea-Bissau, Mali
8750Laos, Turkmenistan
8947Myanmar, Ethiopia
Source: Henley Passport Index

Singapore Tops as Southeast Asia Reports Record Investments in Fintech

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Singapore Tops as Southeast Asia Reports Record Investments in Fintech

The investments channeled to the fintech sector in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, increased to USD4.3 billion in the first nine months of 2022. The amount is higher than the total investments in the sector between 2018 and 2020.

According to a joint report released today (Friday) by the professional services firm PwC Singapore, the Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), and the Economic Development Board (EDB), Singapore attracted most of the investments in the region from the fintech sector.

“Singapore serves as an excellent bridge for companies to reach the neighboring countries,” the report explained. “The city-state also boasts a diverse, multilingual talent pool and a wide range of funding sources for companies.”

In 2022, in a separate report published by PwC Singapore, the Singapore Fintech Association, and United Overseas Bank, as quoted by The Strait Times, Singapore and Indonesia received approximately 65% of the total fintech investments channeled to the sector in ASEAN.

The ASEAN region recorded an increase in investments toward fintech companies despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, the report added. The investments in the global fintech sector dropped to USD75 billion last year compared to USD139 billion in 2021. However, the sector is projected to grow by a compound annual rate of 16% between 2023 and 2028 to more than USD400 billion.

Digital Payment Systems

On top of that, the report disclosed that the most performing segment of the global fintech industry is in digital payments. The segment is projected to reach transactions valued at about USD9 trillion by 2023, with the number of users expected to rise to 5 billion next year.

Finance Magnates reported about a week ago that Singapore’s market regulator, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), had introduced new measures for the Digital Payment Token (DPT) service providers.

One of the measures is that the DPT service providers operating in the region must safely keep customers’ funds in a statutory trust before the end of the year. Besides that, the regulator wants the service providers to separate customers’ funds from their own.

Source: Finance Magnates

Singapore Airlines named World’s Best Airline in the 2023 Skytrax Awards

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Singapore Airlines named World’s Best Airline in the 2023 Skytrax Awards

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been named World’s Best Airline at the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards, taking over the top spot from Qatar Airways.

It’s the fifth time the country’s national air carrier has won the prestigious accolade. In 2019, 2021 and 2022, SIA came second after Qatar Airways.

The Skytrax awards are based on surveys of more than 20 million travellers across over 100 nationalities, who rated more than 325 airlines between September 2022 and May 2023.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways is in third place this year, with Emirates and Japan Airlines coming in fourth and fifth, respectively.

SIA took the top spot in four categories at this year’s Skytrax awards, including Best First Class Airline, Best First Class Comfort Amenities, and Best Airline in Asia.

Scoot named Best Long Haul Low-cost Airline

SIA’s low-cost subsidiary Scoot was named Best Long Haul Low-cost Airline, and ranked second in the World’s Best Low-cost Airlines category.

SIA’s chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong received the World’s Best Airline award on behalf of the Airline in Paris on Tuesday (20 June).

“This award is a testament to the indomitable spirit of our people, who worked tirelessly and made many sacrifices to ensure that SIA was ready for the recovery in air travel. That has allowed us to emerge stronger and fitter from the pandemic as a leading international airline,” Goh said in a statement.

He added that they are very grateful to their customers for their loyalty and support, especially during the pandemic.

Edward Plaisted, Skytrax’s chief executive, congratulated SIA for the achievement and said that the success should be a source of great pride and satisfaction for the airline management and staff.

World’s top 10 airlines in 2023
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. ANA All Nippon Airways
4. Emirates
5. Japan Airlines
6. Turkish Airlines
7. Air France
8. Cathay Pacific
9. EVA Air
10. Korean Air

Singapore Changi Airport is named the World’s Best Airport 2023

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Singapore Changi Airport is named the World’s Best Airport 2023

Singapore Changi Airport has been named as the World’s Best Airport in 2023 in the World Airport Awards held at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Amsterdam on 15th March 2023. Changi Airport also won the awards for the World’s Best Airport Dining and World’s Best Airport Leisure Amenities.

Mr Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airport Group said: “Changi Airport is honoured to be named World’s Best Airport for the 12th time. This recognition is great encouragement to our airport community, who stood firmly together to battle the challenges of Covid-19 over the past two years. We thank them for their dedication to serve Changi’s passengers and the perseverance to keep Singapore connected to the world. To our passengers, we are deeply grateful for your vote of confidence. Your continued support encourages us to keep pursuing service excellence as we expand our offerings to redefine the Changi Experience. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Changi Airport as we rediscover the magic of travel again.”

The 2021 and 2022 Airport of the Year, Hamad International Airport, Doha took 2nd place in the global ranking and won three top awards for the World’s Best Airport Shopping, the Best Airport in the Middle East and the Cleanest Airport in the Middle East.

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport, said: “We are delighted to collect these accolades by the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards, we will continue to strive to provide our passengers with an exceptional travel experience and provide our partners with the best facility and unmatched service. We stay committed to our growth plans and maintaining highest standards in the global travel industry.”

Tokyo Haneda Airport, No 3 in the global ranking, continued its previous year successes winning the awards as the World’s Cleanest Airport, the World’s Best Domestic Airport and the Best Airport PRM & Accessible Facilities.

Seoul’s Incheon Airport, ranked No 4 globally, won awards for the World’s Best Airport Staff Service, the World’s Best Airport Immigration Processing, and Best Airport Staff in Asia.

Amongst other global Award winners, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport was named the World’s Most Improved Airport, and Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya, won the World’s Best Regional Airport award, with Centrair’s Terminal 2 receiving the Best Low-Cost Airline Terminal award.

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport won the award for the World’s Best Airport Hotel, this achievement for a remarkable eighth consecutive year.

Zurich Airport repeated it’s success winning the World’s Best Airport Security Processing award, and Bahrain International Airport took top honours with the award for the World’s Best Airport Baggage Delivery.

Terminal B, LaGuardia Airport received the award for the World’s Best New Airport Terminal, on the same day that this new Terminal B received the highest 5-Star Airport Terminal Rating from Skytrax.

“Our goal at the Port Authority was to completely transform the customer experience at LaGuardia, from curb to gate, by building a brand-new, world-class airport,” said Rick Cotton, Executive Director of the Port Authority. “Winning this prestigious award and becoming the first North American airport terminal to receive a 5-star rating from Skytrax proves that we have accomplished what many once said was impossible: elevate LaGuardia from worst to best.”

Paris CDG Airport was named the Best Airport in Europe, with Munich Airport winning the Best Airport Staff Service in Europe award, as well as the Best Airport in Central Europe.

Helsinki Airport was a repeat winner of the Best Airport in Northern Europe award. “We are proud that our passengers have once again chosen Helsinki Airport as the best airport in Northern Europe. Our airport continues to have a strong position among the best airports in the world,” says Ulla Lettijeff, Director of Helsinki Airport at Finavia.

Istanbul Airport won awards for the Most Family Friendly Airport and the Best Airport in Southern Europe.

Bahrain International Airport received two awards, as the World’s Best Airport for Baggage Delivery and for the Best Airport Staff in Middle East. Gulf Air Group Chairman, His Excellency Zayed R. Al Zayani said: “We are honored to be recognized for the quality of our services and our commitment to ensuring that all passengers enjoy a hassle-free travel experience. BIA is the central asset of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s aviation sector. Awards such as these demonstrate the efficacy of our aviation strategy and reinforce our position as a leading regional and global aviation hub. Backed by state-of-the-art facilities and a highly skilled team dedicated to providing the highest levels of service, BIA celebrates Bahrain’s rich heritage and spotlights our warm hospitality to the world.”

Bahrain Airport Company Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said: “The baggage handling department plays a key role in making the airport experience as seamless as possible for passengers. Although passengers may not see all the hard work and attention to detail that goes into this process, we are pleased that they appreciate a job well done. While our advanced facilities play a key role, having an outstanding team is crucial to deliver a safe, efficient, and memorable airport experience. Customers are at the center of our daily operations and wherever their onward journeys take them, our goal is to ensure the time they spend at BIA is convenient and enjoyable.”

A new award for 2023, Skytrax introduced the Art in the Airport category for the first time, with the winning airport being Houston Airport System in recognition of the art standards across their two airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport. For this 2023 Art in the Airport, the results are based on the Skytrax judging panel and not customer survey results.

“Houston Airports is relentless in its quest to create a global air service gateway where the magic of flight is celebrated. We’ve thoughtfully invested in and curated works of art representative of our city and the greater global community we diligently work to serve,” said Mario Diaz, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports. “It is an honor to know our unique visual and performing arts experience resonate not only with customers but also with Skytrax. Art is magical, and with imagination and innovation, the magic of art inspires Houston Airports to elevate the world’s best art experience to new heights.”

Elsewhere in North America, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport won the award as the Best Airport in North America.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport received the award for Best Airport Staff in North America. “With a strong recovery in aviation activity in 2022 creating many challenges for our industry, I am very proud that the excellent work of employees in our airport community has been recognized. YUL has distinguished itself for many years by the way it welcomes people and for its commitment to championing the passenger experience. So winning this award twice in the last five years is no accident. To the more than 13,000 people who are dedicated to serving passengers every day and who, above all, have continued to smile during the most difficult times over the past year, I say thank you and, above all, bravo!” said Philippe Rainville, President and CEO of ADM.

In South America, Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport won the Best Airport in South America award. According to Natalí Leal, General Manager of Opain, the operating company of the Bogotá airport, “Receiving this recognition is a source of immense pride and satisfaction for all the people, companies and entities that work tirelessly to make the operation of El Dorado possible. With this recognition, for the second consecutive year, we continue to consolidate the airport of all Colombians as a point of reference in the region. We will continue working with excellence and dedication to offer an exceptional service to the more than 36 million passengers that pass through our terminal.”

Quito International Airport received the awards as the Best Regional Airport in South America and the Best Airport Staff in South America. Ramón Miró, CEO of Quiport said: “Maintaining leadership in the region is a huge responsibility and we are committed to continue working to find opportunities for improvement and adequately understand the expectations of our passengers. We are proud to receive these awards from Skytrax, which show that in Ecuador we can provide an airport service with high levels of excellence and, above all, with the warmth that characterizes Ecuadorians. I thank all the companies and institutions that work at the Quito International Airport because this award belongs to all of them.”

San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport took top honours by winning the awards as the Best Regional Airport in Central America & Caribbean and the Best Airport Staff in Central America & Caribbean. In Africa, Cape Town International Airport continues it’s multi-year success by winning the Best Airport in Africa and Best Airport Staff in Africa awards.

In the Australia / Pacific region, Melbourne Airport won the awards for the Best Airport in Australia & Pacific and the Best Airport Staff in Australia & Pacific.

Gold Coast Airport won the award as the Best Regional Airport in Australia & Pacific. Queensland Airports Limited Chief Executive Officer Amelia Evans congratulated all of the team who work at Gold Coast Airport. “To win this award for the fifth time is credit to the more than 2,200 team members who work at Gold Coast Airport, including our airline and retail partners,” Ms Evans said. “What makes these awards so special is that we don’t self-nominate, it’s based on direct feedback from the travelling public, so it’s the best indicator of our performance from a customer experience point of view. The recognition that comes with awards at this level not only puts Gold Coast Airport in the spotlight, but it places the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales communities on the world stage. This has come at a particularly exciting time for Gold Coast Airport, with our new international terminal now open and new global connections on the horizon.”

Delhi Airport received the award as the Best Airport in India / South Asia. The CEO of Delhi International Airport , Mr Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said: “It is the hard work and dedication of all the stakeholders which has helped Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) attain this unique feat. This acclamation by Skytrax reinforces DIAL’s commitment to constantly work towards bettering passenger experience, while developing sustainable and environment-friendly infrastructure at Delhi Airport.”

Hyderabad Airport won the awards as the Best Regional Airport in India & South Asia and for the Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia. Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Pradeep Panicker, CEO-GHIAL said, “We are thrilled to receive this award and be recognized for our commitment to provide an exceptional travel experience for our passengers. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our airport staff, stakeholders and partners working at Hyderabad Airport, who have worked relentlessly to deliver world- class services to our passengers. This recognition motivates us to continue to innovate and further improve the airport experiences and reinforce our commitment to provide a safe and seamless experience for all.”

In China, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport won the award as the Best Airport in China, with Haikou Meilan International Airport winning awards for the Best Regional Airport in China and the Best Airport Staff in China. The Hyatt Regency Shenzhen Airport was named as the Best Airport Hotel in China.

Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said: “We congratulate Singapore Changi Airport on being named the World’s Best Airport for 2023. After being severely hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is pleasing to note that passenger numbers at Changi Airport are now at about 80 percent of pre-Covid-19 levels, and expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. This recognition for Changi Airport is from the airport customers and serves to underline the airport’s popularity with international air travellers. Winning this award as the World’s Best Airport is a very clear recognition of the team effort amongst all staff at the airport who contribute to Changi Airport’s success”.

The World’s Top 20 Airports for 2023

  1. Singapore Changi Airport
  2. Hamad International Airport
  3. Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)
  4. Incheon International Airport
  5. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
  6. Istanbul Airport
  7. Munich Airport
  8. Zurich Airport
  9. Narita International Airport
  10. Madrid-Barajas Airport
  11. Vienna International Airport
  12. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
  13. Rome Fiumicino Airport
  14. Copenhagen Airport
  15. Kansai International Airport
  16. Chubu Centrair International Airport
  17. Dubai International Airport
  18. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
  19. Melbourne Airport
  20. Vancouver International Airport

Source: skytraxratings

Singapore’s Airport Declared ‘Best Airport’ of the World

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Singapore’s Airport Declared ‘Best Airport’ of the World

Based on responses to questionnaires from the Global Airport Survey provided by more than 60 different nationalities of airport users throughout the study period, a new ranking of the world’s top airports has been released.

If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll be pleased to hear that Singapore Changi Airport has once again been named the world’s best airport in a new ranking released by Skytrax. According to the survey, which received responses from over 60 nationalities of airport users, Changi Airport stood out for its exceptional facilities, services, and overall experience. Hamad International Airport of Qatar also made the list, earning recognition for its stunning design that has been hailed as the most architecturally significant terminal complex in the world.

“It’s an incredible achievement to be named the world’s best airport for the 12th time,” said the CEO of Changi Airport Group, noting that the award is a source of inspiration for the entire airport community. Other travelers and industry experts agree, praising Changi’s top-notch amenities and customer service.

Southeast Asia

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Southeast Asia

The Southeast Asian region is geographically situated between China to the north, India to the west, and the Pacific Ocean to the south and east. Interestingly, the term “Southeast Asia” only gained popularity during World War II; prior to this, the region was referred to by a variety of names including the East Indies, the Indochina region, and the Malay Peninsula. There are many fascinating facts about the countries in this region. 🇧🇳🇰🇭🇮🇩🇱🇦🇲🇾🇲🇲🇵🇭🇸🇬🇹🇭🇻🇳🇹🇱

🇧🇳 Brunei – One of the world’s smallest countries, Brunei is also one of the wealthiest due to its abundant oil and gas reserves.

🇰🇭Cambodia – Home to the impressive temple complex of Angkor Wat, Cambodia is known for its rich cultural heritage and fascinating history.

🇮🇩Indonesia – With over 18,000 islands and a diverse mix of cultures and languages, Indonesia is one of the world’s most complex and fascinating nations.

🇱🇦Laos – A landlocked country of stunning natural beauty, Laos is known for its traditional culture, delicious food, and friendly people.

🇲🇾Malaysia – A melting pot of cultures and religions, Malaysia is home to diverse landscapes, from the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur to the lush jungles of Borneo.

🇲🇲Myanmar – Formerly known as Burma, this country boasts an incredible cultural heritage, including the ancient city of Bagan and the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda.

🇵🇭The Philippines – An archipelago of over 7,000 islands, the Philippines is known for its beautiful beaches, friendly people, and rich history.

🇸🇬Singapore – One of the world’s most prosperous nations, Singapore is known for its clean streets, impressive skyline, and delicious street food.

🇹🇭Thailand – A land of golden temples, stunning beaches, and delicious cuisine, Thailand is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

🇻🇳Vietnam – A country of incredible natural beauty and fascinating history, Vietnam is known for its stunning landscapes, delicious food, and friendly people.