Sentosa Sky Lantern festival organiser hit with 15 CASE complaints, SCDF says no clearance given for rescheduled event

SINGAPORE — Clearance has not yet been granted for the rescheduled Singapore Sky Lantern Festival following the cancellation of the event's candle light-up at the last minute, despite the organisers saying tickets would not be refunded but could be used for the later event.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told Yahoo Southeast Asia on Thursday (29 Feb) that the event organiser, Asian Couture and Boutique, informed them about the decision to reschedule the event but did not provide details regarding the new date or venue.

"As SCDF is still following up with the EO on the details and the implementation of the fire safety guidelines, we have not given any clearance for the rescheduled event," the SCDF said.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said that while it is aware of the organiser's intention to reschedule the event, it has not received any further details.

"As of 28 February 2024, they have not shared any details such as date, venue and how they plan to conduct the event," CAAS director (Airspace Policy) Jean Yee told Yahoo Southeast Asia.

No refunds, tickets remain valid for rescheduled event

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Shiermie Bautista from Asian Couture and Boutique said that the rescheduled event would likely take place around the first week of April.

She also mentioned that no refunds would be issued to attendees of the 21 February event, and their tickets would remain valid for the rescheduled event.

The festival, held at Palawan Green, charged $50 per person excluding booking fees and advertised a picturesque lantern light-up with burning candles.

However, attendees were disappointed to find out upon arrival that the plans had changed due to "unforeseen circumstances."

Instead of the promised lanterns with burning candles, LED candles were provided, and attendees were given pens to write their wishes on the lanterns before tying them to barricades.

This unexpected change led to backlash on social media, with some attendees demanding refunds.

15 consumer complaints surface; SDC expresses disappointment over refund decision

The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) informed Yahoo Southeast Asia on Thursday that it had received 15 consumer complaints against the event organiser. The complaints cited the lack of communication regarding the cancellation of the sky lantern release, which was marketed as the event's highlight.

CASE president Melvin Yong said, "Affected consumers are seeking refund from the event organiser. CASE is engaging Asian Couture and Boutique to seek full refund for affected consumers," he added.

The Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) told Yahoo Southeast Asia that it was "disappointed to hear that, contrary to their earlier stance, the event organiser has now decided not to provide refunds".

"As this is a third-party event, the event organiser makes the final decision to issue refunds or to reschedule," the SDC spokesperson added. SDC also mentioned that the organiser had approached them regarding interest in hosting a similar event.

"We reiterated to them on the need to apply for all necessary licences/permits and abide by all requirements from the authorities before engaging us on (a) possible venue," said the SDC spokesperson.

For events hosted in Sentosa, the SDC advises organisers on the regulatory processes of various agencies and the requirements that must be met. Organisers are required to provide proof of these approvals before the event can proceed.

The spokesperson also highlighted the need for event organisers to factor in the lead time required for license and permit applications and approvals, considering the unique complexities associated with each event.

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