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SINGAPORE: This year’s Kusu pilgrimage season will be limited to 500 people per day for better crowd management amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual pilgrimage to Singapore’s Kusu Island during the ninth lunar month begins on October 17 and ends on November 14, the Singapore Lands Authority (SLA) said in a press release on Wednesday (September 23).
Every year during this period, tens of thousands of devotees take the ferry from Marina South to Kusu Island for the pilgrimage.
The island is home to the popular Da Bo Gong Temple (Tua Pek Kong) and three Malay shrines.
Those who wish to visit the island during this pilgrimage season must make a reservation through https://go.gov.sg/kps2020.
Reservations are open on Mondays and each applicant can make a reservation for up to five people.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email, which they must present for verification in order to purchase ferry tickets at the Singapore Island Cruise & Ferry Services counter on the day of their visit.
A maximum of 50 passengers will be allowed on each departure per hour for better crowd management.
The first ferry will depart from Marina South Pier at 7 am, while the last ferry will depart from Kusu Island at 7 pm
Visitors to the island will need to register through SafeEntry and take their temperature before boarding the ferry.
There will be a limited capacity of 30 people for the temple and 15 people for the shrines.
Queues can be expected as a result of limited capacity, SLA said.
“As weekends are a popular period during KPS, visitors are encouraged to visit Kusu Island Monday through Friday,” SLA said, adding that those who are not feeling well should stay home.
No overnight stays or pets are allowed.
The authority advised the public to use public transportation to get to Marina South Pier.
Since there are limited parking spaces, visitors can take the SBS Transit Bus 400 to the pier or take the train to the Marina South Pier MRT station, SLA said.
The free shuttle buses will run between the Marina Bay Cruise Center Singapore Carpark car park and the Marina South Pier on weekends and holidays, as the Marina South Pier car park will not be available at those times.
All regular ferry services to St John’s Island will not stop at Kusu Island on your return trip to Marina South Pier during the pilgrimage. Ferries and private yachts will also not be able to dock at the docks on Kusu Island.
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