Singapore’s Museums Thrive: Visitor Numbers Double Post-Free Entry

via The Straits Times, 25 December 2023: The decision to offer free admission has led to a dramatic increase in visitor numbers to Singapore’s national museums. Notably, the National Gallery, which has been free for Singaporeans and PRs since 2015, saw a doubling of its visitor count in 2022 to approximately 1.5 million, nearly reaching its pre-Covid-19 levels. This trend is also observed in other museums like the Asian Civilisations Museum, which experienced a 67% increase in visitorship. The increase is attributed to both free admission policies and a strong post-pandemic recovery in tourism and local interest. One might be tempted to think that it’s because Singapore is a rich country, but museum receipts typically account for 10-20% of a museum’s total operating expenses. The National Museum of the Philippines has also done away with collecting entrance fees to focus on its role as a cultural custodian.

Visits to national museums and heritage institutions here have doubled in the decade since the introduction of free entry for Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs).

Singapore’s national museums and heritage institutions welcomed more than 5.7 million visitors in 2019 before the pandemic hit, up from about 2.8 million visitors in 2012, according to annual Singapore Cultural Statistics reports.

Museums run by the National Heritage Board (NHB) saw visits rise from two million visitors in 2012 to three million in 2019. The statutory board runs nine museums and heritage institutions, including the National Museum of Singapore, the Republic’s oldest museum, and the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM).

Source: Visits to national museums doubled in decade since admissions became free | The Straits Times