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10 Facts About the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers You Need to Know Before Booking Your Next Staycation

2020-11-23 , 3:00 pm

Last Updated on 2020-11-27 , 6:02 pm

You’ve been hearing about them for a long time.

The only thing you knew about them was that they couldn’t be resold on Carousell and there are systems in place to prevent abuse.

Here are 10 facts revealed on 23 Nov about the SingapoRediscovers vouchers.

Can Be Collected From 1 Dec 2020

Yes, you heard that right.

If you want to, you can redeem the vouchers, which can be used for staycations, local attractions and tours from 1 Dec 2020 onwards.

Five Authorised Booking Partners

There is a special way to make use of the vouchers, however.

These vouchers can be redeemed from five authorised booking partners:

Changi Travel Services (a.k.a Changi Recommends)
Klook
Trip.com
GlobalTix
Traveloka

In order to redeem their SingapoRediscovers Vouchers for online bookings, Singaporeans will need to access their SingPass accounts to verify the transaction.

STB advises that Singaporeans set up a SingPass account as soon as possible, or reset their passwords if they’ve forgotten them, before the voucher redemption period (1 Dec).

The reason why STB is working through these five authorised partners is that Singaporeans are already familiar with them and they have hundreds of merchants who are already working together with them.

The Online Redemption Process

When you access through the authorised booking partners’ website, products that are eligible for the use of the vouchers will be marked with the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers icon.

Add the items to cart and click “Use SingapoRediscovers vouchers” when you make payment.

You will then be redirected to the SingPass website where you have to log in and choose the number of vouchers to use.

A voucher code will be generated, which the user will then need to copy and paste into the checkout page.

Any outstanding amount after the vouchers are used will then have to be paid.

How About Kids?

If you remember, the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers are for Singaporeans aged 18 and above in 2020.

Kids, while they do not have vouchers, have special $10 subsidies.

In order to enjoy the kids’ subsidies, users have to declare the details of family members below the age of 18 years old to enjoy $10 subsidies on up to six youth or kids tickets.

Cannot Stack Vouchers

If you’re hoping to get a staycation worth $200 per night for free by stacking you and your partner’s vouchers together, I’ve got bad news for you.

You’re not allowed to stack vouchers for one product according to STB.

Now, before you get mad and shoot your SAR21 at the messenger (namely, me), chill.

It’s not because they’re stingy; it’s for “security purposes”.

By not allowing individuals to stack their vouchers together, it helps prevent fraud and the resale of the vouchers.

That’s not the only reason, though.

Rediscover Singapore, Support Tourism

With the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble put on hold, the future of tourism in Singapore looks as bleak as ever.

Previously, it was revealed that the point of the vouchers is to encourage locals to turn tourist and explore our own homeland and, in the process, help to support livelihoods and the tourism industry.

By preventing Singaporeans from stacking vouchers, it encourages us to go out and spend more instead of whacking all the vouchers on “one single sale”.

“Also there’s another important reason for that, we would like Singaporeans to actually use the vouchers to support as many tourism businesses as possible. So that’s where we look to you to support as many tourism businesses versus (using) it all in one sale.”

Checking Your Balance

Here’s the website to bookmark from 1 Dec: go.gov.sg/srvbalance

Using this website, all Singaporeans aged 18 and above can check the balance of your SingapoRediscovers Vouchers here, as well as activate child and youth subsidies.

Don’t worry if you can’t remember this because a letter will be sent to all eligible Singaporeans with a guide on the redemption process.

Alternatively, you can download the e-version of the letters below:

Now, I know what you’re thinking, What about my mom?

How About Old People?

Remember how previously, the government said that there will be physical touchpoints set up to help the elderly with the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers?

Anyone who needs help with redeeming the vouchers online can make their way to 69 locations set up across Singapore.

Before visiting the touchpoints, make sure you have a valid SingPass account and access detail because they’ll need those to help you redeem your vouchers.

On a separate note, the People’s Association (PA) also has SingPass setup or password reset services at 53 community centres and clubs.

In short, it’s all online. No physical vouchers.

Harsh Consequences For People Trying To Resell Their Vouchers

In case you didn’t get the memo, you’re not allowed to transfer or resell your SingapoRediscovers Vouchers.

For those who are thinking of trying to test the system, just know that STB is committed to keeping a close eye on the vouchers.

“STB takes a serious view on abuses such as fraud, profiteering and resale of SingapoRediscovers vouchers, and will monitor the usage of vouchers to ensure they are used for their intended purpose.”

Should any resale of vouchers on third-party platforms be discovered, it could result in the listing being taken down and the vouchers in question confiscated.

Sometimes, the case might even land on your friendly neighbourhood policeman’s table.

Take Your Time To Use The Vouchers

STB Chief urges Singaporeans to take their time to browse carefully through the offerings on the five booking partners’ platforms.

More than 200 merchants have signed up, which is “a good sign”, and there are many interesting bundled purchases available due to cross-sector collaboration between different businesses.

Think a hotel stay + $50 credit for the shopping mall beside it.

“There is no need to rush to use the vouchers, and we encourage Singaporeans to use them during off-peak periods.”

Another unspoken reason is that many people are going to receive the vouchers in a week’s time.

Imagine if everyone were to chiong for a staycation or a local tour on 1 Dec 2020? Chances are, safe distancing measures might be neglected once again.

Here’s one more reason to take your time.

Bonus: Compare Between Booking Platforms

The five booking platforms are, first and foremost, businesses who want to get as big a market share as they can.

This means that you’ll be witnessing the five big platforms slash prices, come up with more interesting collaborations and offer attractive packages to beat out their competitors.

For example, Klook has exclusive deals and partnerships with hotels where customers can get hotel rebate vouchers that correlate to how much they spent using the SingapoRediscover Vouchers.

So, even if it’s for a location you already have in mind, compare between the five to see which one gives you a better deal.

Featured Image: Have a nice day Photo / Shutterstock.com