Only 12% Of S’poreans Interviewed Says They’ll Use Tourism Credits On Local Tours

By now, most of us who are 18 years old and above (or turning 18) come this December should be aware that we’ll be getting $100 in the form of tourism vouchers so that we can all finally act like tourists in our own home country.

So far we only know a couple of details regarding these vouchers, all of which can be read over here.

Staycations VS local tours

Seeing as how the borders aren’t going to open up for us during the holidays, most of us would have to settle on staycations at swanky hotels or act swaku while on local tours.

Personally, I’d choose a staycation from this list of hotels approved by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

This doesn’t come as a surprise (at least not to me), but according to The Straits Times, only three out of the 25 citizens interviewed – aged 19 to 66 – said that they would use the vouchers on local tours or a combination of tours and staycations or attractions.

Maybe it doesn’t feel like you’re on a vacation when you’re out on these local tours because you’ve probably seen these sights many times already whereas a staycation gives that sense that you’re overseas.

Even though it’s a false one.

Dr Michael Chiam, a senior tourism lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, said that “people really want to go on holiday overseas, but with the border closed, the next best thing is a staycation”.

Sir, I have to agree with you on this.

Although it has to be said that not all local tours are like walking through Chinatown and looking at mural art on the walls (which is great for heritage walks, by the way).

Check out the 10 interesting local tours in Singapore which will pique your interest, from ghost tours to experiencing a limousine through the streets of SG.

Boosting tourism industry

Of course, it is entirely up to you how you wanna spend your $100 tourism vouchers. Last Monday, it was reported that 214 hotels, 40 attractions and 445 tour itineraries have been given the a-ok to resume operations.

If you’re wondering how to spend your tourism voucher, why not take a look at the approved tourism businesses on the STB website and pick out something you’ve never done before?

For those running their own tourism business and wish to continue operations, STB has a couple of requirements for you to adhere to first so don’t think you can just anyhowly open up hor.

Whatever it is you pick, just know that you’re helping the tourism industry to recover.

But if you’re worried that prices will go sky high during this time, there’s some good news because it won’t.

It was reported that STB chief executive Keith Tan reassured Singaporeans that the agency will be monitoring participating merchants to ensure that they don’t increase their prices unreasonably once residents receive their tourism vouchers.

Which is quite heng ah. 

More details coming soon

While we know some information regarding the $320 million worth of tourism vouchers, more specific details, such as how the vouchers can be redeemed, will be announced this November.

Maybe by then, more attractions will have resumed giving us more choices.

How will you be spending your tourism vouchers?

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