Some Businesses in Changi Airport Said There Are Now Less People, But Jewel is Still Packed

When I read this title, I was really confused because I was there on Sunday and the queues were mad.

With throngs of people everywhere, there was barely enough space to walk.

I could not even enter the viewing balconies to behold the waterfall that’s highly documented on Instagram.

I was constantly afraid that I would trample a toddler. If this is considered a dip, I can only imagine what it was like before.

But Not Everything’s As Rosy As It Seems

Okay, you were expecting that, weren’t you?

I mean, the craze over Changi’s jewel (literally) is beyond Changi’s wildest belief.

Before Jewel first opened, an impressive 500,000 visitors balloted for a chance to get a preview from 11-16 April.

Influencers from all over the world were also invited to do a review and post YouTube videos on it.

But how about the rest of Changi Airport?

Will it take a hit? Will Jewel cannibalise its own sister terminals to rise up on its own?

Well, according to some business owners making a living in Changi Airport, it has started.

Spillover Crowds 

There’s a reason why location is important for businesses.

Because, sometimes, you might not put any money into doing things but you’ll still reap the benefits too.

Like restaurant PappaMia located at Terminal 1. They reported an increase in diners during the preview and opening period.

Similarly, Terminal 4 businesses reported a boost in sales when free shuttle services were offered for customers to Jewel Changi.

Jinjja Chicken at Changi Airport terminal 2 also reported that when Jewel Changi opened, their sales had a 30% increase.

But It Wasn’t To Last

Since the Golden Opening Age of Jewel Changi, the numbers have dropped as visitors flock to Jewel.

F&B businesses are especially affected.

PappaMia’s overall monthly receipts had “dropped significantly”.

Paradise Dynasty in Terminal 3 also said that its revenue has dropped slightly. And to make it worse, they’ve been experiencing the fall since Changi Jewel’s preview period.

For businesses in T4, ever since Changi Airport stopped their free shuttle services from T4 to Jewel, their earnings have taken a hit as well.

But, of course, some businesses remain optimistic.

Ramadan

Some restaurants recognise that as it is also the Ramadan period, the dip in sales could be attributed to the fact that the usual Muslim patrons are now fasting.

Only time will tell whether building Jewel only added competition to the existing terminals or breathed new life and attracted more people in.

Jewel Changi

Designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie, Jewel is Singapore’s latest spanking new mall. With a good mix of global and local brands, it is the epitome of the Global City Vision that Singapore has.

When one thinks of the $1.7 billion mall, a few things come to mind automatically:

112 food and beverage outlets

Jewel has provided the opportunity for many new and old brands to come back to Singapore. Some of the new brands include the ‘Shake Shack’ and ‘Burger and Lobster’.

And as expected, this has resulted in snaking queues all over the mall with people excited to try something different.

It has brought back widely loved and greatly missed brands like A&W too. At the height of things, food chain A&W had a 2-hour queue.

This is truly a testament to Singaporean’s favourite past time: Queuing.

HSBC Rain Vortex

This modern marvel is a 40 metres waterfall.

You know what? Just go to Instagram. It’s all over the platform right now.

Mini Gardens by the Bay

Named the Shiseido Forest Valley, the ‘lush green sanctuary’ is supposed to provide a ‘tranquil retreat’ for visitors.

However, with the great multitude of people gawking at the vortex and taking pictures, it feels more like a pasar malam where you have to jostle through the crowds.