Tourism in Singapore: SAF, another tax for visitors

Singapore is poised to become the first country in the world to impose a tax on air travelers dedicated to financing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a measure that could set a precedent for the entire global aviation sector.

This strategic announcement comes at an opportune time, as nations gather in Brazil for COP30, the international climate conference, to negotiate new measures to combat global warming.

The tax is designed to finance centralized purchases of SAF by the state.

The new tax will apply to tickets sold from April 1, 2026, for all flights departing from Singapore from October 1, 2026.

The tax amount will vary depending on the travel class and distance traveled, ensuring a fair distribution of the burden:

Economy Class passengers traveling to Southeast Asia will pay the lowest amount, US$0.77.

First Class and Business Class passengers taking long-haul flights to the Americas will pay the highest amount, US$32.

« This mechanism aims to raise the necessary funds to support the production and use of SAF, an essential element for decarbonizing aviation, » the authorities stated.