Beach clubs affected by the haze

Beach clubs affected by the haze

The PSI hovered in the moderate range on Saturday, hitting 78 at 12 noon, and the outlook for businesses along the beach has been similarly cloudy with the haze.

Observers say many regular beachgoers have stayed away from the beach, leaving the usually packed beach clubs empty.

Clubs like Bora Bora and Cafe Del Mar say business over the last three days has been bad, with the haze driving away more than half of their customers.

"Usually, business on weekdays, we can get at least [1,000 to 1,200 customers]. But these weekdays, we have only 300 to 400 like that," says Siti Asiah, a waitress at the Bora Bora Beach Bar.

Adrian Lee, Operations Manager at Cafe Del Mar, says that he has seen a drop in customers as well.

"We have a drop of maybe 10 to 20 per cent of people coming into Cafe Del Mar itself. Even like Saturday, like you can see right now, we are not having as much as what you have last Saturday."

However, Sentosa Leisure Group says the haze does not seem to have deterred guests from visiting Sentosa and adds that guest arrivals continued to be brisk this past week.

It is anticipating a good turnout at its annual Halloween event, Sentosa Spooktacular, which kicks off this weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, the haze did not stop beachgoers at Sentosa from enjoying their weekend by the sea.

"It's not that bad today. So it's all right you know coming here for a toss, for a drink with friends. Nevertheless, we still take note, if the haze gets worse, we'll definitely consider. But right now, it's perfect, the weather, the wind, the breeze," says beachgoer Joe Leong.

Another beachgoer, Grace Quek, agrees.

"Today haze [is not that bad]. Like [a] normal day...so I just come out here and suntan. [There is also no obvious] smell at all, like [a] normal day."

At East Coast Park, bicycle kiosk operator Mr Lee has suffered a 40 per cent drop in customers.

"There are more teenagers, but less children. There are less families coming here also."

As for the weather outlook, NEA says hazy conditions are still expected with winds forecast to remain southwesterly to westerly for the next two days.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-