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All Singaporeans aged 18 and above in 2020 will be receiving $100 worth of vouchers meant to support local tourism, and these vouchers will be valid between December 2020 and June 2021. This announcement came on 16 September, and the vouchers will complement the recent SingapoRediscovers campaign that was launched in July.
The vouchers were first brought up back in August, when Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that $320 million would be distributed to Singaporeans through vouchers. The goal is to promote local tourism and encourage Singaporeans to support local tourism businesses.
Pic credit: Gardens By The Bay
How do these vouchers work?
Each Singaporean above the age of 18 in 2020 will receive $100 worth of digital vouchers, and these vouchers are valid from December 2020 to June 2021. These vouchers will be distributed via SingPass in $10 denominations, and the vouchers can be used for attractions, tours and staycations.
Each adult will also be entitled to purchase up to six subsidised tickets - at $10 off - to attractions or tours for children or youth below the age of 18. The vouchers will only be distributed to Singaporean citizens, meaning PRs and those here on a work pass will not be eligible for the voucher.
These SingapoRediscovers vouchers can be used at attractions, tours and licensed hotels from the list of businesses approved to re-open by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
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Increase in capacity at attractions
The announcement of the SingapoRediscovers vouchers come as the green light was given for businesses to increase their operating capacity, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. From 18 September, businesses that have been approved to reopen can apply to STB to increase their capacity from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.
Attractions may also apply to increase the capacity for outdoor shows to incorporate 50 per people zone, with a maximum of 5 zones. The previous capacity was 50 persons. The easing of rules was attributed to the cooperation of operators in ensuring that safety distancing measures are implemented.
More details to come
STB has said that it will be working with an appointed vendor to design a platform for the digital vouchers, and assistance will be provided to those who may not be able to access the vouchers online. Safety features will also be built in to deter fraud and unauthorised transactions.
Minister for Trade and Industry, Chan Chun Sing, encourages Singaporeans not to rush to spend the vouchers in December, as they are valid until June 2021. More information on how the vouchers can be redeemed will be announced in November. Click here to find out more about the tours we offer!
