Among the first industries that felt the effects of the pandemic must have been the aviation, tourism and hospitality sectors. After all, with borders closed and all non-essential travel curtailed, there won’t be many inbound and outbound travellers. To help these pandemic-battered industries the Singapore Tourism Board has set aside $320 million and offered every Singapore citizen age 18 and above, a $100 SingaporeRediscover Voucher. The voucher can be used to offset the ticket price to an attraction, or to cover the costs of a local tour and even hotel stay.
While we don’t have the latest official figures, but as of April 2021, about 3/4 the vouchers have not been utilized yet. That equates to about 2.2 million Singaporeans who have yet to make use of these vouchers.
There are a number of reasons why some people have not redeemed their vouchers. For one, due to the pandemic, people prefer to stay at home these days. As they do not see any specific attractions or tours that interest them, they rather not make us of the vouchers. Others, while hoping to offset the cost of a staycation, may find the cost of these hotel rooms prohibitive to begin with. So even with a $100 “discount”, it still means a substantial out-of-pocket sum.
Still, having extended the expiry to the end of 2021, we do not expect a further extension of this scheme. Also, with 11 countries on the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) scheme, with more to come on board soon, there is little incentive to extend the expiry date of these vouchers.
With December 31st looming, if you have not made use of your SingaporeRediscover voucher, now’s the time. What can you use it for? Here are our top 10 suggestions:
Universal Studios
With school holidays coming up and if you’re travelling to the 11 countries on the VTL scheme, what better way than to expend those pent-up energy of your child with a trip to Universal Studios? Even the adults will feel young again.
Royal Albatross
Fancy being on luxury ship? Look no further than cruising on the Royal Albatross. Touted as Singapore’s only “luxury tall ship” the super yacht offers breakfast and dinner cruises that are eligible for the SingaporeRediscovery voucher scheme.
Sentosa Fun Pass
The Sentosa Fun Pass incorporates credits that you can use at the some of the most popular attractions on the island. This is a great value pass. Try indoor skydiving a iFly Singapore, play on the Segway, go kayaking or set your adrenaline flowing at the AJ Hackett Skypark – there’s something for everyone.
Singapore Flyer Sky Dining
If you like an elegant dinner with a view to boot, why not try the Singapore Flyer Sky Dining package. It comes with a four-course dinner while you take in the evening view of Singapore.
1925 Brewery Tour and Teochew Dinner
Looking at the spirited review comments of people who went on this tour, it must have been a hit with patrons. Try various freshly-brewed beers and round it off with a Teochew dinner.
Singapore River Cruise / Gardens by the Bay + Lunch / Dinner
If you prefer a more leisurely pace of spending your time, then a Singapore River Cruise or a stroll at the excellent Gardens by the Bay followed by a sumptuous meal might be your thing. Gardens by the Bay has an excellent tulip display from October 7 to November 14, 2021.
Pulau Ubin Seafood Lunch and Chek Jawa Tour
Who needs a time machine when you can visit Pulau Ubin? It is almost untouched by development and you’ll be transported back to the 60s/70s Singapore. Enjoy a nice seafood lunch and visit Chek Jawa afterward. Be amazed by the flora and fauna found here.
Cooking Classes
When mere tours don’t cut it for you, or you’re more of a hands-on person, why not consider taking up cooking classes and enjoy the fruits of your labour afterward? Some of the classes include: traditional Hainanese cuisine, Authentic Thai cooking or tasty Hokkien cooking.
Zoo / Night Safari
If you have not been to the zoo in ages, now’s the time. You can’t go wrong with one of the oldest and most popular attractions in Singapore. Spend all day here and you’ll be glad you came.
Staycation
If you don’t fancy any activities and just wanna chill, a staycation will never disappoint. But do hurry, the year end is at hand and some of the more popular hotels are filling up fast!
The above activities can be found at Klook.com, Trip.com, Traveloka.com and directly with the attractions. You need to hurry though, December beckons!
Whenever you’re out and about, take along your pair of Sunday Shades. Sunday Shades is Singapore’s favourite sunglasses brand. They’re ultra-lightweight (just 22g), they are designed for the Asian face profile: so they are snug-fitting, are hyper comfortable, super protective with UV 400 and polarizer protection and awesomely priced! Visit their online store today and choose your favourite colours!