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Sentosa’s beaches were packed with people yesterday, about two weeks before guests are required to book their visits during peak periods.
Groups of friends and families were seen on the beaches of Palawan, Siloso and Tanjong, where some were tanning, playing volleyball or picnicking. Others swam or kayaked close to shore.
For college students Charlene Lee, 19, and Nicole Lin, 20, the upcoming reservation requirement was one of the reasons for their visit to Siloso Beach yesterday.
“In the future, we would be too lazy to book,” Lin said.
Since July, the island’s three beaches have been segmented into seven zones, each with a capacity limit of between 100 and 350 people to allow safe distancing.
The zones have specific entry and exit points, where visitors must register and exit using the SafeEntry digital system.
Yesterday, other safe handling measures were implemented on the beaches, for example, “safety rings” that indicated the places where groups of up to five can gather.
Safe-distance ambassadors were also seen patrolling the beaches.
In the beach areas of Palawan and Siloso, visitors received wristbands upon admission. These allowed them to access only the respective area where they had been given the bands.
A Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) spokesperson told The Straits Times that the bracelets have been phased in to familiarize Sentosa bathers with the upcoming reserve requirement.
Beginning October 17, beach lovers will need to make reservations online prior to their visits during peak periods, such as weekends and holidays.
In a statement last month, SDC said the online reservation system will begin accepting reservations starting Saturday, for visits starting October 17. It will be tested for an initial period of three months.
Guests can reserve entry to an area up to seven days before their intended beach visit, subject to capacity limits. They can choose between two time slots, in the morning (from 8 am to 1 pm) or in the afternoon (from 2 pm to 7 pm), and make reservations for up to five people in each reservation.
On the day of the visit, guests would receive wristbands at the beach entrance kiosk in their selected area, after submitting the booking confirmation email for verification.
Some bathers said the reservation requirement would discourage them from visiting the beaches.
College student Terence Lee, 24, who goes to the beaches to tan, hopes he will visit them less often once reservations are needed.
“I usually come when I’m free … I don’t know my schedule beforehand,” said Lee, who also works part-time.
A 40-year-old financial controller who wanted to be known only as Mr. Lim said the reserve is necessary to avoid situations where people have to queue to enter over-capacity beaches.
“People wouldn’t waste their trip coming down,” he said.
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