#Singapore

A sobering new regional study shows Singaporean scam victims incur the highest average losses per person in Southeast Asia, at about US$2,132, with Malaysia in second place. The figures underscore a widening financial toll from an escalating wave of digital fraud as more people move money online, shop on social platforms, and engage with unfamiliar investment offers. For Thai readers, the findings carry immediate relevance: scams do not stay within national borders, and the methods that work in one country often migrate across the region, targeting households across income levels and ages.

Southeast Asia’s post‑pandemic tourism rebound has been powerful but patchy, with major markets returning to roughly 80–100 percent of 2019 visitor levels while showing widely different trajectories this year. The six largest destinations — Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines — together received about 114 million international visitors in 2024, roughly 89 percent of 2019 levels, yet patterns since then point to a region recovering unevenly and, in some cases, cooling again (The Diplomat explainer).

The morning mist lifts from Wat Pho’s golden spires as another stream of international visitors begins exploring Bangkok’s ancient temples. Yet behind these familiar scenes, Thailand’s tourism industry faces a complex reality that mirrors broader challenges across Southeast Asia.

Thailand stands as the region’s undisputed tourism leader, welcoming 35 million international visitors in 2024—a remarkable recovery that outpaces most regional competitors. However, this achievement masks underlying vulnerabilities that could reshape the kingdom’s tourism landscape in 2025 and beyond.

A global survey reveals Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai as Asia’s priciest cities for “living well” in 2025, with Singapore ranked the most expensive city worldwide for luxury living for a third consecutive year. The findings come from the Julius Baer Global Wealth & Lifestyle Report 2025 and highlight how luxury consumption patterns affect Thai travelers, investors, and residents seeking prestige with value.

The Julius Baer Lifestyle Index measures the cost of maintaining a high-net-worth lifestyle across 25 major cities. It considers prime property, private healthcare, luxury goods, business-class travel, and even the price of an international MBA. The 2025 edition blends objective price data with insights from affluent individuals about their priorities, offering a snapshot of global luxury aspirations and realities.

A new international survey has found Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai lead the list of Asia’s most expensive cities for “living well” in 2025, with Singapore claiming the global top spot for the third consecutive year. The findings, published in Julius Baer Group’s Global Wealth & Lifestyle Report 2025, underscore shifting trends in luxury consumption—and hold important implications for affluent Thais and Southeast Asian travelers seeking both status and substance in urban living.

Singapore has emerged as the top destination for ultra-high-net-worth travelers in Southeast Asia, according to recent findings from Vista, the world’s largest private aviation on-demand operator. The report signals a shift in how Asia’s wealthiest travelers spend, with implications for tourism investment and long-term economic planning across the region.

Vista’s June release highlights Singapore’s rise as a premier hub for affluent jet-setters, driven by safety, world-class hospitality, stable governance, and easy connectivity. As regional economies recover from the pandemic, private jet movements into Singapore have surged, underscoring a preference for efficient, tailor-made experiences and exclusive access over mass tourism.

Singapore has emerged as Southeast Asia’s leading destination for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) travelers, according to the latest findings released by Vista, the world’s largest on-demand operator for private aviation. The new trends underscore a shift in luxury travel preferences and spending patterns among Asia’s wealthiest elite, with regional implications for tourism, investment, and long-term economic development.

Vista’s research, unveiled on June 19, highlights Singapore’s ascent as the premier hub for affluent global jet-setters—a distinction earned through its reputation for safety, world-class hospitality, financial stability, and seamless connectivity. As regional economies recover post-pandemic, the rising frequency of private jet flights to Singapore spotlights its expanding influence among UHNW individuals who, according to Vista, are increasingly prioritizing efficient, bespoke experiences and exclusive access over conventional tourism.

A new regional assessment ranks living standards across Asia, placing Singapore at the forefront while highlighting wide disparities in prosperity, health, and education from East to South Asia. The findings combine indices like the Human Development Index with recent analyses from international organizations, illustrating strong progress in some economies and ongoing challenges in others.

For Thai readers, understanding these comparisons offers practical insights into policy priorities as the country navigates economic volatility, rising living costs, and a shifting job market. The study draws on global benchmarks such as the UN’s Human Development Index, rankings on quality of life, and measures from the OECD and the World Bank. It serves as a call to action for policymakers and citizens alike.

A newly published survey ranking living standards across Asia confirms Singapore’s position as the region’s leader, but underscores wide disparities in prosperity, well-being, and quality of life from East Asia to South Asia. The findings, based on composite indices such as the Human Development Index (HDI) and recent analyses from international organizations, highlight both the impressive progress made by some Asian nations and the pressing challenges still faced by others.

A recent wave of international rankings has put Singapore in the spotlight, designating the city-state as the third happiest city in the world, behind only Copenhagen and Zurich according to the 2025 Happy City Index (CNBC). Yet, this glowing reputation has triggered a complex reaction among Singaporeans themselves, echoing a broader debate across Asia—including Thailand—about what true happiness means in highly structured societies.

Singapore’s strong position on the index, published by the Institute for the Quality of Life, was determined by an extensive assessment across six key categories: citizens’ well-being, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility. Notably, 2025 marks the first year the index included health in its evaluation—an addition reflecting increased global concerns about physical and mental wellness after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A surge of international rankings has spotlighted Singapore as the third happiest city worldwide, after Copenhagen and Zurich, according to the 2025 Happy City Index. The result has sparked both pride and questions among Singaporeans and across Asia, including Thailand, about what true happiness means in highly organized, fast-changing societies.

The index, published by the Institute for the Quality of Life, evaluates six pillars: citizens’ well-being, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility. Notably, 2025 is the first year health is included, reflecting rising awareness of physical and mental wellness in a post-pandemic era. While such metrics signal strength in public health, education, safety, and governance, residents on social media wonder about the daily reality behind the numbers: crowded urban life, long work hours, and the high cost of living can dampen perceived happiness even in top-ranked cities.

The latest results from the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 have confirmed that the National University of Singapore (NUS) holds the highest position among Asian universities for computer science, coming in at 8th globally. This reaffirms Singapore’s commitment to world-class technological education and highlights the continued ascent of Asia’s leading institutions in the fiercely competitive field of computer science and information systems (Tempo.co).

For Thai readers, this news points not only to the international success of universities in the region but also offers insights into the shifting competitive landscape for STEM education that matters both locally and globally. Computer science is among the most sought-after academic programs worldwide due to its direct link to economic growth, digital transformation, and advanced job prospects—a reality that Thailand’s education policymakers and students should closely watch.