Group travel to Singapore is holding up despite the worst haze of the year. Operators selling open-air experiences are bearing most of the damage.
Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the central region reached 227 at 9am on 16 October, a new high for the year. The east and west regions also entered the "very unhealthy" range, the first time this year that three regions have done so at once. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said dense smoke from fires in Kalimantan was still drifting towards Singapore on south-easterly winds.
In Malaysia, 34 of 68 monitoring stations recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings. All three stations in Melaka were unhealthy, with Bukit Rambai the highest at 184. Firefly has cancelled flights between Subang and Singapore's Seletar Airport until 18 October, and is moving affected passengers onto Malaysia Airlines flights.
Groups stay the course
Indonesian travellers have so far stuck to their plans. "Our Indonesian clients going to Singapore are travelling as scheduled, with no cancellations. That includes meeting clients," said Teguh Heri Basuki, chief executive of Samasta Tour & Travel Jakarta.
Industry peers in Jakarta who handle Singapore and Malaysia overland packages report the same. "Some flights have been delayed, but the groups are still travelling, and no itineraries have been adjusted because of the haze," he said. Samasta has a small group booked for Singapore next month, and that trip is still on schedule.
Vietnam's Vietravel has also had no requests to postpone or cancel Singapore tours. Its guides are monitoring air quality and shortening time at outdoor sites such as Marina Bay and Sentosa. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said Singapore continues to welcome international visitors, and advised them to check http://haze.gov.sg to plan their days.
Haze takes the wind out of sales
Operators selling open-air experiences are faring worse. Some outdoor tourism businesses in Singapore have seen bookings fall by up to 30%. Yacht charter firm Wanderlust Adventures said business is down 30% since September, with a sharp drop in Chinese customers during China's Golden Week holidays from 1 October. On A Roll Tour said scooter and walking-tour bookings were 10 to 20% lower than a year earlier.
More than a passing cloud
Relief, however, may be limited. NEA expects weekend showers and a change in wind direction that could carry less smoke from Kalimantan, but haze from Sumatra may still reach Singapore.
Singapore's environment minister, Grace Fu, warned that readings could still go above 200. The Meteorological Service Singapore does not expect the monsoon change that usually clears the haze until late October or early November.