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As a child in the 80s and 90s, Sentosa was always a big trip for my family. We did not travel much then so the ferry crossing into Sentosa felt like the closest thing to travel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today, Singaporeans have a different yardstick. With the rise of budget airlines, a strong Singapore dollar and growing affluence, travel has become a way of life for many.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2025, there were more than 10.6 million outbound trips from Singapore by air and sea \u2013 this is nearly triple the number of trips in 1997, data from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority shows.<\/span><\/p>\n Johor Bahru is a popular weekend jaunt. Between January and July 2025 alone, Singaporeans accounted for over 11 million visits to Johor, according to a Johor official. This can be expected to grow when the\u00a0<\/span>Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link<\/span>\u00a0launches in 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n With regional destinations more accessible than before, there are simply more options available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So while snaking queues usually form when new attractions such as the Oceanarium open at Sentosa, this does not always translate into repeat visits. Friends I speak to sometimes compare the cost of a staycation in Sentosa, including admission tickets, to a short trip within Southeast Asia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Attractions aside, when it comes to creating that feeling of escape, there is still a special magic in crossing immigrations, getting passports stamped, and stepping into another country with a different currency, language and food.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n