Expect heavy traffic at checkpoints over May 1 weekend

Expect heavy traffic at checkpoints over May 1 weekend



TRAFFIC is expected to be heavy at both the Woodlands and Tuas land checkpoints over the Labour Day (May 1) weekend, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said.

Travellers can expect heavy traffic heading to Malaysia on Friday while arrival volume is likely to be particularly heavy on Monday, ICA added in a statement yesterday.

"Security at our checkpoints remains the ICA's top priority," the authority noted.

The BioScreen system has been implemented at the passenger halls of the land checkpoints to capture the thumbprints of visitors.

Traffic build-up is "inevitable" with security checks in place, ICA said.

"To avoid a surge of travellers and vehicles seeking clearance at the land checkpoints, travellers are advised to adjust their travel plans if possible," it added.

It also reminded travellers to ensure that their passports are valid before their journey. The passports must have a validity of six months or more.

Singaporeans have also presented passports that were previously reported as lost.

These can no longer be used even if they are later found as they have been cancelled by the ICA.

The ICA is also encouraging Singaporean travellers to carpool. Motorists leaving Singapore will be able to check the traffic situation using the Land Transport Authority's Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (Emas) installed along the AYE and BKE.

Singaporeans, Singapore permanent residents and long-term pass holders are encouraged to use the automated clearance gantries for immigration clearance.

Travellers should also make sure that they are not carrying illegal or prohibited goods. The list of controlled and prohibited items can be found on ICA's website (www.ica.gov.sg).

"We seek travellers' understanding and cooperation when using the land checkpoints during the peak periods," ICA added.

~News courtesy of My Paper~

S'pore tourism gets a $700m booster shot

S'pore tourism gets a $700m booster shot

CHINESE tourists in Singapore tend to make a detour to temples before visiting the integrated resorts.

While one can only hazard a guess at the reason, more of such insights, pieced together by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), could help tourism players better understand the behaviour of travellers.

Yesterday, Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran said the Government was giving the tourism industry a $700 million boost for the next five years until 2020.

Among its other uses, the fund will tap on big data to gain insights about visitors' behaviour - like the Chinese tourists' propensity to visit temples before casinos.

The money will also be used to attract and train industry professionals and grow the cruise industry, Mr Iswaran added.

Speaking at a tourism industry conference, he said the last two years have been challenging. Last year, visitor arrivals grew a modest 0.9 per cent to 15.2 million, while tourism receipts fell below expectations, dipping by 6.8 per cent to an estimated $22 billion.

While keeping an eye on long-term growth opportunities, the industry needs to be able to deal with short-term volatility, he said.

The STB will ramp up marketing efforts in secondary cities in China, Indonesia and India, and explore newer markets like Myanmar, said its chief executive Lionel Yeo.

It is also enhancing a fund aimed at attracting business travellers. The latter, on average, spend double that of a leisure traveller.

Also in the works is a central hub where businesses can give information about their offerings so travel agencies and aggregators can plan tour packages more efficiently.

STB's chief technology officer Quek Choon Yang said the aim is to transform Singapore into a single, unified "mega-attraction", enabled by a one-stop mobile application where visitors can get the information and services they need.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic's senior tourism lecturer Michael Chiam, who attended the conference, said the challenge is getting industry players to share their data.

He added: "The mindset behind it is that we're all interconnected... and if we can pool data together, it'll be better off for all of us."

~News courtesy of My Paper~

ICA to scan thumbprints of visitors to Singapore

ICA to scan thumbprints of visitors to Singapore



Both thumbprints of travellers arriving and departing Singapore from tomorrow will be screened at the sea and land immigration checkpoints. BioScreen clearance at air checkpoints will be introduced later.

TRAVELLERS arriving and departing Singapore by sea or land will have their thumbprints scanned at immigration checkpoints from tomorrow, as part of ongoing efforts to boost the country's security levels.

The new BioScreen system will be rolled out progressively at passenger halls of all sea and land checkpoints, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) yesterday.

This comes after a successful year-long trial at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal that has seen more than 120,000 travellers go through the new system since last April, it added.

In the months ahead, BioScreen will also be rolled out at the air checkpoints here, ICA said.

Those aged six and above who use manned counters at immigration checkpoints will have both their thumbprints scanned upon arrival and departure.

This will affect foreign visitors and Singaporeans who opt to go through these counters, but not Singapore citizens and permanent residents who use the automated clearance lanes.

At the Woodlands and Tuas land checkpoints, the initial phase will see the system implemented at the manned counters within passenger halls. BioScreen clearance for motorists will be introduced later.

ICA noted that travellers may experience "slightly longer immigration clearance times" at the checkpoints as a result.

It added that it will "monitor the system closely and will fine-tune and adjust the implementation plans where necessary".

Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo, who is on the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Home Affairs and Law, believes the immigration system will be able to "cope well" despite the longer clearance times.

"The evolving and escalated global security threat means that a global passenger transit hub such as Singapore must step up its surveillance and protective work," he noted.

"Eventually, everyone will benefit from safer border security."

The United States started scanning fingerprints of all visitors in 2004, in the aftermath of the Sept 11 terror attacks in 2001. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan also introduced fingerprint scans from 2007.

Associate Professor Kumar Ramakrishna, head of policy studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said the move "makes sense", given that "Singapore remains an iconic target" for terror groups.

"Biometric technology is a crucial enabling technology that is available now and hence should be exploited, especially since the threat from transnational terrorist groups like ISIS has heightened at this point in time," he added.

~News corutesy of Mypaper~

National Museum to create dedicated digital space for visitors

National Museum of Singapore to create dedicated digital space for visitors

A dedicated digital media space will be established at the National Museum of Singapore in partnership with the National Arts Council, said Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Baey Yam Keng on Thursday (April 14).

The aim to provide an immersive environment for visitors to engage with traditional arts, he said.

Added Mr Baey: “We will continue to find new ways to engage Singaporeans, especially our digital-savvy youths, whether in sport, arts or heritage. The digital space is one that cuts across boundaries.

“During the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games last year, we saw how a simple hashtag like #OneTeamSG could connect Singaporeans separated physically, but united in their support for and pride of our athletes.

"And we will continue to tap on digital spaces and social media platforms to encourage “live” participation and interaction, whether you are at a sports centre, gallery or museum.”

DIGITAL-FIRST FOR THE ARTS?

To complement the push for digital engagement, the National Heritage Board (NHB) will also launch a new portal at Roots.sg in mid-April, said Mr Baey.

“Besides providing access to our entire national collection online, Roots.sg presents heritage resources in a much more dynamic manner,” he said.

“If you are a teacher preparing to bring your students on a heritage trail in Kampong Glam, check out Roots.sg. You can view the sites and monuments on the trail, click on links to find out more about the history and download worksheets for your students. Your students, too, can watch videos of traditional trades in Kampong Glam and do further research after the excursion.

"So whether you are a serious researcher, or just a curious young student, Roots.sg will provide a new dimension for you to explore and learn more about our history and heritage.”

MCCY said NHB’s digital engagement strategy will turn its focus towards audience education and engagement, particularly with youths, to foster a digital community of heritage supporters and advocates. At local museums, physical on-site experiences will be complemented with digital content before and after visits.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Talks on stops along KL-Singapore High Speed Rail still ongoing

Talks on stops along KL-Singapore High Speed Rail still ongoing

Talks to finalise the number of intermediate stops for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail are still on-going, said MyHSR Corp Sdn Bhd Chairman Dr Ali Hamsa on Thursday (Apr 14).

He said the consideration for the intermediate stops would take into account the main feature of the project itself - rail express services linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in 90 minutes.

"It is still in the final stage of discussion," said Ali, who is also Chief Secretary to the Government, when asked if the project would involve five to six cities along the route as reported.

Ali said this to reporters after the prize-giving ceremony of MyHSR Corporate Logo Design Competition on Thursday.

It was reported that the project would connect five intermediate stops in Malaysia to Singapore namely, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Nusa Jaya.

Ali said the conclusion on the alignment of the project would be known in July.

This follows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's announcement that the memorandum of understanding between Malaysia and Singapore on the project would be signed by the middle of this year, he said.

On the Request for Information (FRI) exercise for the project, Ali said, to-date they had received 189 entries, and the FRI inputs would be used in their negotiation with Singapore.

He said the basis for the inputs would be on major contributions towards commercial and technical aspects.

MyHSR Corp is a wholly-owned special-purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Finance that was set up to ensure the successful delivery of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail project.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

MoU for KL-Singapore High Speed Rail to be signed

MoU for KL-Singapore High Speed Rail to be signed mid-2016: Najib

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the High Speed Rail linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will be signed in the middle of this year, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak announced on Tuesday (Apr 12).

He was speaking at the Invest Malaysia Kuala Lumpur conference, held at the Shangri-La Hotel in KL on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A spokesperson from Singapore's Ministry of Transport said both countries are working towards signing an MoU at the next Leaders’ Retreat, which will be held in Malaysia.

When completed, commuters on the High Speed Rail are expected to complete their journey between Singapore and KL in 90 minutes. Currently, it takes up to eight hours by train and about five hours by express bus to travel between the two cities. The 315km journey by road takes close to four hours, while flights take 45 minutes, excluding airport check-in and transfers to the city.

In May last year, it was announced that the terminus for the Singapore side of the project will be built on the site occupied by Jurong Country Club. Work is expected to start in 2017 and completed by 2022, according to the Malay Mail Online.

The project was first announced in a joint statement by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mr Najib during the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat in 2013.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~