Hotels in Singapore are gasping for reprieve from the haze that has descended over the island state since June 13. As the country is shrouded in a dense blanket of smoky fog, tourists started cancelling hotel room reservations, cutting short their holiday and diverting to haze-free destinations.
Singapore faces its worst haze situation since the 1997 Southeast Asian Haze; a large-scale air quality disaster affecting many countries in the region. According to statistics from the National Environment Agency of Singapore (http://www.nea.gov.sg), the Pollutants Standard Index (PSI), a measurement for air pollution has indicated Singapore’s air quality to be in the “very unhealthy” range since June 18. NEA has also issued health advisory for the public to stay indoors and should avoid all physical activity outdoor.
The haze also couldn’t have come at the right time as July to August period is the peak season for visitors from China and Indonesia. Hotels in Singapore are now anticipating a drop in visitors from these top two visitor markets. Other regional markets are also expected to make alternative plans as tourists are put off by the polluted air.
“We have noticed a 16% drop in hotel room bookings since June 17 when the haze starts to worsen. And on Thursday when the PSI hit 371 which is unprecedented and at a hazardous level, we started to see tourists cancelling their booked hotel rooms in Singapore,” says Danny Lee of BudgetHotels.sg.
Tourists hoping to ride the iconic Singapore Flyer will have to wait as it has suspended operations for safety reasons. Other popular tourist spots like Resorts World Sentosa and Singapore Zoo have also suspended outdoor attractions and shows till the haze situation improves. For tourists heading to Singapore, they are advised to adjust their itinerary to indoor activities like visiting museums and shopping malls.
“We are adopting a wait-and-see approach as the haze is beyond our control,” added Lee. “But I’m hopeful the sky will turn clear in a few days time when the wind changes direction and blow the haze away. It will not be a permanent condition and Singapore skies will once be clear and beautiful again.”
Singapore faces its worst haze situation since the 1997 Southeast Asian Haze; a large-scale air quality disaster affecting many countries in the region. According to statistics from the National Environment Agency of Singapore (http://www.nea.gov.sg), the Pollutants Standard Index (PSI), a measurement for air pollution has indicated Singapore’s air quality to be in the “very unhealthy” range since June 18. NEA has also issued health advisory for the public to stay indoors and should avoid all physical activity outdoor.
The haze also couldn’t have come at the right time as July to August period is the peak season for visitors from China and Indonesia. Hotels in Singapore are now anticipating a drop in visitors from these top two visitor markets. Other regional markets are also expected to make alternative plans as tourists are put off by the polluted air.
“We have noticed a 16% drop in hotel room bookings since June 17 when the haze starts to worsen. And on Thursday when the PSI hit 371 which is unprecedented and at a hazardous level, we started to see tourists cancelling their booked hotel rooms in Singapore,” says Danny Lee of BudgetHotels.sg.
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“We are adopting a wait-and-see approach as the haze is beyond our control,” added Lee. “But I’m hopeful the sky will turn clear in a few days time when the wind changes direction and blow the haze away. It will not be a permanent condition and Singapore skies will once be clear and beautiful again.”
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