‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Is Potential Bonanza for Singapore Tourism
Skift Take
Many destinations or small towns aren't prepared for waves of tourism after a box office hit makes travelers want to visit, but not Singapore. The island nation has been expanding its airport, hotels, stopover program, and luxury offerings for years as it waited for its turn in the spotlight with U.S. travelers.
Travelers were already flocking to Singapore in record numbers in recent years. But the debut of "Crazy Rich Asians" this weekend is giving millions of potential new visitors a big screen glimpse of a vacation for the rich and famous in the tiny island nation.
"Crazy Rich Asians," the film based on the 2013 novel by Singaporean-American Kevin Kwan, delivered $34 million in box office sales in its first five days in theaters. The impressive debut made it the number one film, which features popular Asian-American actresses such as Constance Wu and Ken Jeong.
But the lead supporting role is undoubtedly Singapore itself, which had 12 attractions, such as Marina Bay Sands, and 12 Singapore-based cast members featured throughout the film. The city's airport alone is a destination fit for Hollywood royalty and is a symbol of Singapore's growth as a luxury travel brand.
The movie's timing is ideal for the destination, as Singapore Airlines is set to restart non-stop flights between N
