Changi wins best airport award - again

Changi wins best airport award - again

CHANGI Airport has been named the world's best airport in an annual global survey of travellers - its second consecutive win.

South Korea's Incheon International Airport came in second while Munich Airport bagged the bronze.

The World Airport Awards are based on a survey by London-based research firm Skytrax. This year, the firm received 12.85 million nominations from air travellers of 110 nationalities. More than 400 airports worldwide were evaluated.

The survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators, including shopping, check-in, and security and immigration.

Skytrax's chief executive officer, Mr Edward Plaisted, said: "Changi Airport offers a travel experience in itself and continues to develop its quality standards to be named the world's favourite airport again."

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Cashin House set to be visitor gateway to Sungei Buloh reserve

Cashin House set to be visitor gateway to Sungei Buloh reserve

Areas around the Cashin House, near the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, have the potentials for further development, according to an analyst.

The house is uniquely built on a pier, hence nicknamed "The Pier", located at the coast of Lim Chu Kang.

It is visible from the Lim Chu Kang Jetty, and has a panoramic view of the Johor Strait in the southern state of Malaysia.

Cashin House is set to be a new visitor gateway to the western part of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Likely to be built before the 1940s, it was occupied by the Japanese in 1942 during the Second World War.

After the war, the Cashin family regained possession of the house.

Under a 2013 draft master plan, it was previously revealed that Cashin House will be restored and converted into a recreational spot.

Mr Nicholas Mak, executive director of SLP International Property Consultants, said: "The authorities can actually consider gradually developing some of the areas around this old Cashin House without actually destroying the natural environment.

"For example, they could open up the grounds for camping or for picnics for families. And hence, bring more attention to this Cashin House and increase its visitorship."

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

World's Best Airport for 2nd consecutive year

Changi Airport voted World's Best Airport for 2nd consecutive year

Singapore's Changi Airport has been voted the World's Best Airport by air travellers for the second year in a row at this year's Skytrax World Airport Awards.

It is the first time that Changi Airport has won the top accolade twice in a row, and the fifth time that the airport has been named the world's favourite airport.

South Korea's Incheon International Airport took second spot, while Munich Airport was in third place.

The World Airport Awards are based on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and included 410 airports worldwide.

The online survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product -- from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, to departure at the gate.

Lee Seow Hiang, chief executive officer of Changi Airport Group, said: "We are honoured to be named World’s Best Airport for the second consecutive year.

"We appreciate the support given to us by travellers from around the world. This recognition is great motivation for us and spurs us to continue to aim higher.

“At Changi Airport, we remain steadfast in anticipating the needs of our customers, which is the cornerstone of the Changi Experience. We share this honour with our airport community, for their unyielding commitment to service excellence and with our passengers, for their vote of confidence."

Edward Plaisted, chief executive officer of Skytrax, said: "Changi Airport offers a travel experience in itself and continues to develop its quality standards to be named the world's favourite airport again.

“Changi Airport demonstrates how to make the airport experience an enjoyable part of the journey that is so important in today's fast-moving world."

Changi Airport also received the Best Airport for Leisure Amenities award at the event held at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Barcelona, Spain.

Skytrax’s World’s Best Airports in 2014:

Singapore Changi Airport
Incheon International Airport
Munich Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)
Beijing Capital International Airport
Zurich Airport
Vancouver International Airport
London Heathrow Airport

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Haze will be worse this year: NEA

Haze will be worse this year: NEA

IF YOU thought the record level of haze last June was bad, be prepared for it to get even worse this year.

The warning came from Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan and the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a briefing yesterday.

They cited three factors. First, haze hit Singapore earlier than usual this year as the region suffered a prolonged dry spell.

Second, the recent haze in the nearby Indonesian province of Riau was worse than last year.

Third, the NEA confirmed that most climate models are predicting an El Nino weather phenomenon - linked to droughts in South-east Asia - in the second half of this year. This "is usually associated with aggravated haze", said Dr Balakrishnan.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Boat Quay makeover rocks the boat

Boat Quay makeover rocks the boat


CLEANING UP THE VIEW: The plan is to replace ad hoc structures set up by businesses along Boat Quay with new ones that would give clearer views of both the river and the promenade. (FILE PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES)

A PLAN to renovate the alfresco dining areas in Boat Quay has divided both stakeholders and patrons.

Yesterday, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) called for submissions from consultants to study how the outdoor refreshment areas (ORAs) along the entire stretch facing the river can be improved.

Under the plan, the ad hoc structures set up there by individual businesses would be replaced by new ones that would provide better views of the river.

The promenade stretches approximately 335m and houses 41 businesses on the ground level.

For now, there are no indications as to how long the works, set to begin in the middle of next year, will take.

However, restaurant owners in the area said they were told to expect anything from a few weeks to a few months.

Speaking to the media, Mr Ty Tabing, executive director of site management group Singapore River One (SRO), noted the "cluttered appearance" of the promenade, and how large menu boards, fish tanks and partitions block views of the river and the quay.

"There is a lot of coverage that unfortunately obstructs the views of these beautiful shophouses," said Mr Tabing.

"We think the project being proposed will clean that up and open up the sight lines."

SRO said an ongoing survey it is conducting among businesses and landlords has shown that the majority support the project. About half of the stakeholders on the riverfront stretch are SRO members.

However, a MyPaper check with business owners has shown a lack of consensus.

About three quarters of businesses along the stretch have a significant part of their seating outside. Some do have tables indoors, but most rely largely on their alfresco dining areas.

Among them is the Marina Bay Seafood Restaurant. A kitchen and fish tanks take up its shop space indoors, so all of its seating is outside in the ORA.

"My business will basically have to stop (during construction)," said the owner, who wanted to be known as Mr Hua. "Who will pay for the rent and salaries of my employees when we are not making any money?"

Mr Victor Yap, operations manager of CM Bar, said SRO had suggested it could put bar tables along the main walkway.

"Even if we put our tables there, customers will not like it because of the dust and noise from the construction," he said. He estimates a 40 per cent drop in revenue.

Restaurants also voiced concerns that the project would make the stretch look too "uniform" and cause Boat Quay to "lose its unique feel".

British tourist Linda Edwards has been to Singapore numerous times and frequents the Boat Quay stretch. She said: "This cluttered look is part of its quirky charm. It's a very unique blend that cannot be found elsewhere."

Still, local student Daniel Lim, 21, said he feels the changes will "make Boat Quay cleaner and more vibrant. It is too cluttered now, and the beautiful view can hardly be seen at some points of the street".

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Crowds throng Haw Par Villa relaunch

Crowds throng Haw Par Villa relaunch


REVIVAL: Almost five times more visitors than usual visited Haw Par Villa, which was relaunched as a domestic tourist destination, over the weekend. The crowd was mostly made up of elderly folk and families with young children. (PHOTO: SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD)

THE relaunch of Haw Par Villa as a domestic tourist destination was met with a rousing response over the weekend, with almost five times more visitors than usual.

Visitors went on free guided tours of the 76-year-old attraction, watched cultural performances and nibbled on popiahs and wanton noodles at a nostalgia-themed food bazaar.

Called Reliving Haw Par Villa, the event was part of the ongoing Tourism50 campaign by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to encourage Singaporeans to visit attractions, such as the Gan Heritage Centre in Bukit Pasoh Road and the Jamae Mosque in South Bridge Road.

Haw Par Villa saw an average of 3,000 visitors per day last weekend, up from the 700 that it usually receives daily.

The crowd was mostly made up of elderly folk and families with young children keen on looking at the colourful statues and dioramas that depict popular Chinese folktales.

Among them was Mr Daniel We, 51, and his wife, who took along their two children so that they could "understand Chinese culture".

Mr We also wanted to experience the nostalgia of returning to an attraction he had not visited in decades. Pointing to his children, who are aged below seven, he said: "The last time my wife and I were here, we were our kids' age!"

Reliving Haw Par Villa will take place again this weekend. From next month, Haw Par Villa will also host a series of art exhibitions, paid guided tours and art workshops.

Built to the tune of $1 million in 1937, Haw Par Villa was originally the front yard of the Aw brothers' home. In its heyday in the 1970s and 80s, it attracted a million people a year.

The STB bought it in 1985 and gave it an $80 million facelift, expanding it to five times its size and turning it into a ticketed theme park.

Despite the hefty investment, Haw Par Villa was not able to regain its former glory as, over the years, newer attractions - such as the Night Safari and the integrated resorts - pulled away the crowds.

But the STB is determined to keep the place afloat. It said it will "continue to seek ways to maintain its unique heritage and relevance" with new programmes, as the attraction has "great heritage values" and "holds many happy memories for local residents".

It also emphasised the importance of local support, because "the support and passion from Singaporeans form the core for conservation of such places steeped in heritage and history".

~News courtesy of Omy~

Hazy conditions persist in Singapore

Hazy conditions persist in Singapore

Hazy conditions continued to affect Singapore on Thursday, with the 3-hour PSI hitting a high of 87 at 8pm - the highest so far this year.

But there could be some reprieve on Friday.

The National Environment Agency website forecasts showers over southern and western Singapore in the late afternoon.

NEA said on Tuesday that the haze could be attributed to smoke plumes from the hot spots in southern Johor, blown in by the prevailing northeasterly winds.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Singapore may have 'occasional slight haze' over next few days

Singapore may have 'occasional slight haze' over the next few days: NEA

Singapore may have "occasional slight haze" for the next few days, especially in the mornings, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in an advisory on Sunday night.

There has been thick haze blanketing parts of the Riau province in Indonesia. In Malaysia's Port Klang, air pollutant index readings on Sunday morning reached an unhealthy level of 121.

The NEA said 70 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, but wind blowing from the north-east will keep the haze away from Singapore. However, Singapore may still experience occasional slight haze due to accumulation of particulate matter under stable atmospheric conditions.

As at 9pm, the three-hour PSI or pollutant standards index, a measure of air quality, was 30. A PSI of 0 to 50 remains in the "good" range, while that between 51 and 100 is "moderate".

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

STB series of events to mark 50 years of tourism in Singapore

STB series of events to mark 50 years of tourism in Singapore

To commemorate 50 years of tourism development and promotion in Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has lined up a series of events and activities which will be run in three phases – “Reminisce”, “Rediscover” and “Celebrate”.

The first wave of Tourism50 initiatives – “Reminisce” -- will take local residents on a walk down memory lane.

Some old attractions will be featured and the STB hopes its events will help to raise awareness and appreciation of those places.

One such event is a series of free guided Haw Par Villa tours and talks, curated and conducted by a local heritage tour specialist, which will take place over two weekends in March 15, 16, 22 and 23.

The “Rediscover” phase will feature unique experiences designed by local tourism enterprises from various sectors, and will run from April to October.

The Celebrate phase will showcase festive light-ups and various events, and set the mood for Singapore's 50th birthday celebrations next year.

Details for the “Rediscover” and “Celebrate” phases will be made known at a later date.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~