It’s one week until Chinese New Year (CNY).
And with that, many Singaporeans will likely flock to Johor Bahru over the weekend to pick up CNY decorations, stock up on groceries, or shop for clothes.
Add to that the usual influx of Malaysians crossing the border daily for work, and you’ve got a recipe for the heaviest traffic.
In light of this, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued a travel advisory on Monday (20 January 2025), warning of heavy traffic at both the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from 24 January to 1 February 2025.
The first day of CNY falls on Thursday (29 January 2025).
For Malaysians, this could be a silver lining.
With CNY just around the corner, businesses in JB are thriving, thanks to the steady stream of Singaporean shoppers boosting their sales.
Expect Heavy Traffic at SG-JB Checkpoints
In the travel advisory, the ICA has advised travellers to avoid peak travel dates, expect delays, and factor in additional time for immigration clearance due to enhanced checks.
The authority also urged travellers to cooperate with checkpoint officers, follow traffic rules, and maintain lane discipline.
Those who fail to comply with instructions or commit offences at the checkpoints will face consequences.
So, if you’re planning a trip to JB this weekend or during the CNY holidays, prepare for longer queues and extended waiting times at immigration.
Don’t say we never warn you.
More Singaporeans Doing CNY Shopping in JB
Speaking to The Star, Ms June Lee, 37, a vendor who sells Chinese New Year decorations, shared that she has seen a significant increase in customers over the past week.
She believes that the increase in Singaporean customers in JB is attributed to the rise in GST in the country along with the stronger Singapore currency.
In addition, hotels in JB have welcomed more guests, particularly on weekends over the past fortnight.
Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (Johor chapter), Ivan Teo, said that Singaporeans often come here for their CNY shopping. While some prefer day trips, many opt to stay overnight given the much more affordable hotel rates in JB.
More Than 500,000 People Cross the SG-JB Border Each Day
On 20 December 2024, the Singapore-Malaysia border saw a high record of 562,000 travellers crossing the land border at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, setting a new single-day record.
This broke the previous record of 553,000 crossings set just a week earlier on 13 December 2024.
With CNY approaching, the number of people crossing the borders could very well match or even exceed these figures.
During this period, car travellers during peak periods faced waits of up to three hours for immigration clearance due to traffic tailbacks from Malaysia.
To minimise such delays, travellers are advised to consider using cross-border bus services, which could be a quicker alternative.
Meanwhile, those heading to Malaysia by car or motorcycle are encouraged to use QR codes instead of passports for faster and more convenient immigration clearance.
Bus Tickets Still Available, But Prices Soar
If you think bus tickets have been sold out by now, you thought wrong.
Last week, it was revealed that demand for coaches heading to Malaysia, including interstate routes, has been lower than expected.
This is because many people prefer driving back to enjoy the scenic journey and the food along the way.
However, while tickets remain available, prices have skyrocketed.
For example, a one-way bus ticket from Singapore to Malacca on a regular day costs around $30. But during the CNY period, prices jump to as high as $50.
Similarly, a one-way ticket from Singapore to Penang on 28 January 2025 ranges from $55 to $65.
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