Melissa Ow

As chief executive of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Melissa Ow is steering Singapore’s tourism landscape into a new era of quality, sustainability, and innovation. Having led the organisation for over two years, she oversees the nation’s development as a vibrant, world-class destination with a diverse portfolio of tourism products, experiences, and events.

Under her leadership, Singapore achieved a historic milestone in 2024, with tourism receipts reaching a record S$29.8 billion—a 10 per cent year-on-year increase that exceeded forecasts. This achievement underscores her strategic focus on Quality Tourism, a framework that prioritises meaningful visitor spending, high-value experiences, and long-term resilience over sheer visitor numbers.

Ow’s tenure has seen Singapore solidify its position as Asia’s leading hub for leisure, business, and lifestyle events. From a dynamic year-round calendar of global concerts and cultural festivals to the continuous rejuvenation of attractions and the debut of new hotels, she continues to ensure Singapore remains compelling, competitive, and relevant to travellers worldwide.

A cornerstone of her vision is Tourism 2040, Singapore’s long-term roadmap for the next two decades. The comprehensive strategy envisions a tourism sector that balances economic growth with sustainability, ensuring meaningful benefits for residents while delivering exceptional experiences for visitors. Through this, Ow seeks to cultivate a tourism ecosystem that enhances quality of life, supports local communities, creates meaningful jobs, and safeguards what makes Singapore unique.

Looking ahead, she is focused on deepening visitor segmentation to attract travellers who value authentic, transformative experiences and genuine engagement with local culture. She also champions capability building within the tourism ecosystem—investing in workforce upskilling, sustainability adoption, and innovation to keep Singapore’s tourism industry globally competitive.

Before taking on her current role in 2023, Ow served as Executive Vice President at the Economic Development Board, where she transformed its global marketing and communications strategy and strengthened Singapore’s positioning as a business destination in key markets across Europe, the United States, China, and Japan.

For her contributions to nation-building and economic development, she received the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2015. Today, she continues to shape Singapore’s tourism future with a vision grounded in inclusivity, partnership, and pride of place—a sector that future generations of Singaporeans can call their own.