Singapore has resumed free tours of the city for
transit and transfer passengers who have a layover of at least 5.5
but less than 24 hours.
Participants will also need to have a valid entry
visa for Singapore to take part in the tours.
Organised by Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore Airlines
(SIA) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the tours have
resumed after a three-year hiatus caused by COVID19.
Three of the tours available since
pre-COVID – the City Sights Tour, Heritage Tour and Jewel Tour –
have been refreshed to include new points of interest, whilst a
brand new Changi Precinct Tour will introduce travellers to the
interesting sights and sounds of the eastern region surrounding
Singapore Changi Airport.
Each tour lasts 2.5 hours and will be
available daily, with plans to progressively increase the schedule to nine
tours per day.
With transit and transfer passengers accounting
for about 30% of passenger traffic at Changi Airport pre-pandemic,
the tour was first introduced in 1987 to enhance the airport’s
attractiveness as a transfer hub and to encourage transit and
transfer passengers to visit Singapore as a holiday destination.
In 2019, over 80,000 passengers went on a Free
Singapore Tour with the top markets being India, Australia, and Indonesia, with Indian
and Australian travellers making up more than one third of the
total participants.
“We are delighted
to bring back the Free Singapore Tour through our long-standing
partnership with CAG and SIA. It is imperative for us to refresh
our tourism offerings to meet the demand for wellness and
eco-conscious travel, and cater to travellers seeking deeper
experiences,” said Chang Chee Pey, Assistant Chief Executive,
Marketing Group, Singapore Tourism Board. “We hope that the tour will inspire transit and
transfer passengers to plan a longer trip to Singapore in future,
and discover much more of what our vibrant city has to offer.”
The Changi Precinct Tour is a new itinerary that
will bring participants to the eastern part of Singapore to visit
local community spaces such as the Tampines heartland, and to
admire the rustic charms of Changi Village and Changi Beach. It
offers a glimpse of how local residents live, and tells the tale
of Singapore’s history on this part of the island, away from the
usual hustle and bustle of Singapore’s city centre.
With the Jewel Tour, in addition to visiting popular
attractions like the Shiseido Forest Valley and the HSBC Rain
Vortex, participants can now discover more about Singapore’s food
heritage through local brands such as Bee Cheng Hiang and Tong
Garden, and sample local snacks at the same time. Another new
component of the tour is a free guided walkthrough of a digital
attraction – Changi Experience Studio – for participants to
experience some of its airport-themed games and interactive
exhibits.
New pit stops in the City Sights Tour include the
Civic District, where travellers will get an introduction to
Singapore’s urban development through visits to various national
monuments including the National Gallery Singapore, Anderson
Bridge, and The Padang. The bus route will also pass through the
new Marina Bay Financial District enroute to Gardens by the Bay.
The Heritage Tour, available from June, will feature places of
interest such as the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, Arab
Street, and Haji Lane, for participants to gain a more in-depth
understanding of Singapore’s unique and diverse multi-cultural
heritage.
“The Free Singapore Tour was
very popular among our transit and transfer passengers prior to
the COVID19 pandemic, and we are happy to bring it back with the
resumption of travel,” said Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice
President of Air Hub & Cargo Development at CAG. “For travellers who choose to transit or
transfer at Changi Airport, the Free Singapore Tour is designed to
give them a glimpse of what Singapore has to offer, including the
unique attractions and offerings at Jewel Changi Airport and the neighbouring Changi Precinct which has a rich cultural and
historical heritage. Together with our partners, SIA and STB, we
hope to welcome more passengers who fly through Changi Airport to
enjoy a slice of Singapore through our new tours and world-class
attractions and facilities.”
The refreshed itineraries also highlight
sustainability features at some of the locations featured in the
tours, to give participants an overview of Singapore’s
sustainability efforts. These include the Eco Community Garden at
the rooftop of Our Tampines Hub (as part of the Changi Precinct
Tour) environmental sustainability initiatives implemented at
Gardens by the Bay (as part of the City Sights Tour) and Jewel (as
part of the Jewel Tour).
Lee Lik Hsin, Executive Vice President
Commercial, Singapore Airlines, said, “We welcome the timely
relaunch of the enhanced Free Singapore Tour, which offers a
unique transit experience for our customers. We are pleased to
continue working closely with CAG and STB to promote the
sustainable growth of travel to and through Singapore.”
Monster Day Tours has been appointed by CAG, SIA,
and STB to run the Free Singapore Tours and advance booking is
available on Changi Airport’s website.
