SingapoRediscovers vouchers extended; now to expire 31 December
SINGAPORE – The SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRV) scheme, due to expire by end-June 2021, will be extended for six months to 31 December.
In a press release on Friday (30 April), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said that it will also make it easier for Singaporeans to use their vouchers.
There have been complaints that the voucher redemption process, mostly done online, is cumbersome, with many applicants encountering technical difficulties.
As of 30 April, STB said, over a million adult Singaporeans have used their SRV at least once, making a total of 1.3 million transactions. "To date, the SRV scheme has contributed over $200 million to Singapore’s tourism-related businesses," the agency said. "This consists of approximately $147 million in vouchers and cash payments on tourism bookings, and a further $55 million in additional spending on sectors such as retail, F&B and transport."
Earlier, in a written parliamentary reply on 5 April, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said that as of 28 March, over 760,000 Singaporeans have used the tourism vouchers at least once, and some 2.2 million Singaporeans have not yet redeemed their vouchers.
More ways to book
Currently, to redeem their SRV online, Singaporeans must log in to their Singpass account and book their preferred products through any of the five authorised booking partners. Partners also provide booking assistance at physical counters located within or near Community Centres/Clubs (CCs).
From the third quarter of 2021, Singaporeans may visit over 30 CCs to redeem their vouchers using their NRICs. Authorised SRV ambassadors will scan their NRIC using a secure government mobile application, while staff from authorised booking partners will assist with booking SRV-eligible products.
STB is also working with various attractions to provide on-site redemption counters.
The SRV website will also be enhanced to include more featured deals as well as SRV donation drives.
Sustaining momentum
STB's chief executive Keith Tan said, “Since the launch of the SingapoRediscovers campaign and the SRV scheme last year, we have been heartened by the tourism sector’s efforts to create new products and experiences for locals. These initiatives have had a positive impact on our economy beyond tourism. The extension of the SRV scheme is intended to sustain this momentum.”
STB said that it has observed strong interest in attraction bookings, which make up more than half of all SRV transactions, as well as hotel bookings which have seen the highest transaction revenue. Tour bookings have also more than tripled between April 2021 and December 2020.
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