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SINGAPORE: SingapoRediscovers coupons, which can be used for stays, attraction tickets and tours, can be redeemed from December 1, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Monday (November 23).
The vouchers, 100 Singaporean dollars for every Singaporean aged 18 and over this year, can be redeemed online through five authorized booking partners: Changi Travel Services (also known as Changi Recommends), Klook, Trip.com, GlobalTix and Traveloka.
“We know that local consumption will not fully offset tourism spending,” said STB CEO Keith Tan.
“But we hope that over the next seven months, Singaporeans will use the vouchers to rediscover Singapore, to explore what our hotels, attractions and tours have to offer, and in the process, support jobs, livelihoods and skills in our tourism industry. “.
READ: Singaporeans 18+ to Receive $ 100 Local Tourism Coupons
Singaporeans can use their SingPass to redeem coupons online. They are encouraged to sign up for a SingPass account if they don’t have one, or to reset their SingPass password if they have forgotten it, before the coupon redemption begins, STB said.
Eligible products that can be redeemed with the coupons are marked with the SingapoRediscovers coupon icon on the authorized booking partners’ websites.
Users can add the items to the cart and click “Use SingapoRediscovers Coupons” to pay on the checkout page. They will then be asked to log in with their SingPass accounts and choose the number of SingapoRediscovers coupons they will use.
If purchasing child or youth tickets, they will need to declare details of family members under the age of 18 to receive S $ 10 subsidies for up to six child or youth tickets. Subsidies will be automatically deducted from the payment amount.
A coupon code will be generated, and users must copy and paste this coupon code on the payment page and proceed to pay the outstanding amount, if any.
Coupons cannot be stacked or combined with someone else’s to purchase the same product, STB said.
Stacking is not allowed for “security reasons,” to prevent fraud and resale of the vouchers, the tourism board said in a briefing Monday.
“So that’s where we want to make sure SingPass authentication and fraud prevention come into play, that what’s yours remains yours. It’s not going to be stolen by someone else, it’s not going to be used by someone else, ”STB said.
“There is also another important reason for that, we would like Singaporeans to use the coupons to support as many tourism businesses as possible. So that’s where we want it to support so many tourism businesses instead of (using) it all in one sale. ”
As of December 1, users can check the balance of their SingapoRediscovers vouchers and activate subsidies for children or youth at go.gov.sg/srvbalance. All eligible citizens will also receive a letter with information about the exchange process.
Singaporeans who need help redeeming coupons online can go to 69 locations across the island. Most of these are in community centers, select shopping centers, and SingPost locations.
“Citizens are reminded that they must have a valid SingPass account before visiting authorized booking partners at their physical locations,” STB said.
The People’s Association will provide SingPass setup or password reset service in 53 community centers or clubs for those who need help.
PREVENT FRAUD
To prevent fraud, individuals cannot transfer or sell their SingapoRediscovers vouchers.
“STB takes a serious view on abuses such as fraud, speculation and resale of SingapoRediscovers coupons, and will monitor the use of the coupons to ensure they are used for their intended purpose,” the tourism board said.
Action will be taken against any resale of coupons on third party platforms. This could include the removal of listings and the loss of unused SingapoRediscovers coupons, he said. Cases can also be referred to the police.
Singaporeans should not share their SingPass login information and one-time password with anyone, STB said. To avoid falling for scams, you should also watch out for unsolicited text messages or web links that direct you to suspicious portals claiming to be SingapoRediscovers authorized coupon booking partners.
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READ: Tourism companies prepare strategies to benefit from SingapoRediscovers coupons
Speaking to reporters, STB Director Keith Tan said the agency “has been working hard behind the scenes” with the tourism industry and government agencies to prepare the coupons for the past few months.
“This is a monumental task, we have never done something like this before at STB. It is the first national digital-only coupon scheme implemented by the government, involving hundreds of merchants, five booking partners and dozens of physical locations across Singapore. ”
STB decided to work with reservation partners to “help represent hundreds of these tourism businesses at scale,” including small merchants who may not have their own reservation system. Consumers are also familiar with the platforms, the tourism board said.
“Actually, a lot of the merchants are already onboard with these booking partners, because it’s part of the normal business model.”
The tourism board has ensured a “much lower range” of commission rates for all merchants who will use the booking platforms to launch their SingapoRediscovers products, he said. “On the citizens’ front, there is really no impact, no additional fees or charges will be charged to users for reservations.”
The industry has “responded very well” to the vouchers, Tan said. Since the initiative was announced in August, more than 200 merchants have signed up to offer products for the vouchers.
“I’m also encouraged to see our tourism companies working with each other to reinvent their offerings for Singaporeans. As a result of these cross-sector collaborations, we have many very interesting bundle packages, which can be purchased with SingapoRediscovers coupons. ”
Singaporeans should “take their time” to choose the experiences they want, as coupons and products are valid until June 30, Tan said.
“There is no need to rush to use the coupons, and we encourage Singaporeans to use them during off-peak periods.”
