THE Singapore Tourism Industry Conference (TIC) began on a sober note this morning with Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, saying, “Even with the global rollout of vaccines, international travel will not return to pre-Covid levels anytime soon.”
Even though it has become the first government to accept the IATA Travel Pass for pre-departure checks from May 1, sparking hopes that other governments will follow, he said, “We are still in the thick of it and recovery remains uncertain.”
The acceptance of the IATA Travel Pass means travellers can get clearance to fly to and enter Singapore by showing a smartphone application containing their data from accredited laboratories.
Singapore takes a practical and progressive approach towards reopening, he said, evident in how this morning’s hybrid TIC event was managed, with physical delegates having to take antigen rapid tests before entry, while virtual delegates watched on the GEVME platform. On-site arrangements were in line with the “Safe Business Events Framework” developed to restart events.
Now that “we have a clearer knowledge of the virus and its transmission, a wider range of stronger testing options, and more robust testing capabilities”, he said this has given Singapore greater confidence to gradually resume travel, while ensuring health and safety remains top priority.
He said that Singapore was working with other countries and regions to establish safe travel protocols, and mutual recognition of health certificates, including testing and vaccination records. Therein lies the greatest challenge as governments around the world take differing approaches to reopening with much debate over vaccine passports.
To date, Reciprocal Green Lanes have been rolled out with seven countries, although five have been suspended. Discussions with Hong Kong and Australia are back on the table.
“The pace and extent of the reopening of borders will depend on the course of the global pandemic situation and when we are able to achieve domestic herd immunity,” said the Minister.
“More importantly, we understand that we cannot afford a broad risk elimination strategy by shutting ourselves off. Instead we actively manage the risks, based on objective evidence and sound judgement. We hope to work with more like-minded countries, to strengthen our connection to the region and the world.”
The message was thus loud and clear – don’t wait, prepare and transform now, catch the rebound as it comes in waves and take the lead to reinvent travel.
Minister Chan said, “We are not waiting for a full reopening. Singapore is prepared to disrupt the status quo, transform our products and services, and harness our capabilities to capture the next lap of growth.”
Keith Tan, chief executive of Singapore Tourism Board (STB), encouraged the industry to answer the Minister’s challenge. “We don’t expect tourism to return at scale anytime soon but it will return and we must be ready to capture growth when it returns.”
To help the industry survive “this long winter”, more financial support schemes are being rolled out and extended. It will top up the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) by S$68.5 million and enhanced support levels until the end of March 2022.
This will include the Business Improvement Fund (BIF) and the Training Industry Professionals in Tourism (TIP-IT) grant. STB will also launch SG Stories Content Fund Season 2 next week, a continuation of its scheme to encourage content creators to tell authentic Singapore stories to inspire travel to Singapore. Season 1 attracted more than 500 applications.
Two key themes were identified, which the two leaders said present opportunities for Singapore in the long term – sustainability and technological transformation.
Its vision is to position Singapore “as a top sustainable and innovative urban destination” and it wants to be the “best place to test-bed sustainable tourism products and experiences”.
In the area of technology, Tan challenged the industry, “Can Singapore become a thriving marketplace that brings together the most innovative and promising technology solution providers on the one hand and the most forward looking, tech-savvy tourism companies on the other hand.”
“As we push forward in 2021, the challenge that lies ahead is not recovery within this year or even next year, but how Singapore will prepare for long term success and reinvent global travel,” said Minister Chan.