World's second richest country named top draw from Fillipino, Indonesian travelers

Singapore, ranked the world's second-richest country by GDP per capita in 2025 behind Switzerland, was named the most desirable travel destination for Fillipino and Indonesian travelers thanks to its low crime rates and political stability, according to a recent survey.

A bus runs past the Old Hill Street Police Station in Singapore

The State of Southeast Asia: 2026 survey by Singapore-based think tank ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute asked respondents to identify their preferred destinations for relocation, work and travel. The survey drew responses from more than 2,000 participants across 11 Southeast Asian countries.

Most respondents from the Phillippines and Indonesia picked Singapore as their most preferred destination to travel, citing reasons as low crime rates, stable political environment and high living standards.

Singapore is also favored by travelers from Southeast Asia for work thanks to its flexible policies.

According to data from the Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore welcomed approximately 4.4 million international visitor arrivals in the first quarter of the year, representing a 2.8% year-on-year growth.

Phillippines and Indonesia were among Singapore's largest tourism markets.

Singapore was named the best country for culture and tourism in Southeast Asia in a 2026 ranking compiled by U.S. News & World Report in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania.

The survey also revealed that the four most popular ASEAN countries for both tourism and relocation were Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Vietnam's presence in the list reflects the growing prominence of its tourism industry.