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SINGAPORE – Consumers have expressed concern that the plan to give Singaporeans $ 100 in tourism vouchers to spend on the island may be too inconvenient for some to use.
Starting next month, those 18 and older will receive SingapoRediscovers coupons online to spend on local attractions, hotel stays and tours.
While many have welcomed the move, consumers who spoke to The Straits Times have also raised concerns after the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced more details on Monday (November 23).
One of the main concerns was the “extremely complicated redemption process”, with some saying that the inconvenience involved would deter people from spending the vouchers, especially the elderly.
Available in $ 10 denominations, coupons can be redeemed online through five authorized booking partners: Changi Recommends, GlobalTix, Klook & UOB Travel Planners, Traveloka, and Trip.com.
“It’s a good idea, but the way it’s being implemented seems strange,” said engineer Raju Govindasamy, 49, who intends to use the coupons for a family outing at a local attraction. “When you involve multiple merchants and you don’t have a centralized site from which coupons can be redeemed, it makes it much more difficult for consumers, no matter how willing, to go through the motions.”
Small business owner Lim Sioe Hwan, 32, said: “It would make a lot more sense if there was a single website run by STB, where people can just visit it and redeem the coupons for specific packages, rather than push more to the customer to jump through the hoop just to redeem a coupon.
“There is no question that each merchant will have a variety of packages, but instead of having many options, things get more confusing.”
Lim added that her parents, who are in their 60s, were “baffled” by the redemption process.
University student Lynn Koh, 22, also suggested that there be a kind of “centralized search engine” where all available offers and features could be displayed with relevant links.
“Without a central point of comparison, or without room for convenient comparison and contrast, it is even more difficult for customers to make judicious decisions. If a lot of homework is required just to use a voucher, it simplifies what could be a process. simple, “he said.
Some customers also expressed concern that older and less IT-savvy Singaporeans find it difficult to redeem coupons, particularly as each merchant has specialized physical redemption counters.
“It’s good that there are counters for those who find electronic payment and online redemption difficult, but it creates confusion when there are specific counters for specific offers,” said 77-year-old Loke Kam Wing, who is looking to use her coupons for one day with her wife, who is also 70 years old.
“This causes problems because not only will I have to do research online about what offers to get in advance, but I will also have to find the appropriate counter, which may or may not be near me.”
For Goh Min Kwang, 45, who works in banking, the main concern is the possibility that “unscrupulous merchants” could “raise the price” of packages or activities, denying the value of the $ 100 tourist voucher.
“I hope there can be more transparency and tighter price regulation. It would be terrible if prices skyrocketed due to demand or other factors. If that happens, the $ 100 in coupons wouldn’t count for much more than hedging. this price increase, “Goh said.
STB said it takes a serious look at practices like speculation and said it will penalize traders who have done so.
However, many people the ST spoke to were very happy with the prospect of tourism vouchers, which can be used at all hotels, leisure attractions and local tours approved by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and they did not mind the extra effort involved in obtaining them. .
Ms Sakinah Mohd, 44, is considering spending the coupons on a family vacation to Sentosa to celebrate her daughter Maia’s eighth birthday, which falls on December 20.
“This initiative helps to raise awareness of the different attractions Singaporeans can visit,” he said.
Vouchers cannot be transferred between people or combined with other people’s vouchers. But Ms Sakinah added that she doesn’t care because “they allow those whose livelihoods and income have been affected by Covid-19 to go on vacation and enjoy time with family.”
Full-time economics tutor Melvin Koh, 37, a father of two boys aged four and seven, said: “The government has given Singaporeans this money to appreciate the cultural gems of our country while helping to subsidize costs. hotel and attraction operations. It is fair that we are not allowed to accumulate or resell these vouchers for personal financial gain. “
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