The Free Singapore Tour has been relaunched for transit and transfer passengers to the garden city by Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Singapore Tourism Board.
A brand new Changi Precinct Tour will introduce travellers to the sights and sounds of the eastern region such as Changi Beach and Changi Village that surrounds Changi Airport and offer them a glimpse of how local residents live.
The 3 tours– the City Sights Tour, Heritage Tour and Jewel Tour – that were available previously have been refreshed to offer new experiences to travellers. Each tour will be 2.5 hours long and will be available daily. It will be run by Monster Day Tours, with plans to progressively increase it to 9 tours a day.
The Free Singapore Tour was very popular at Changi Airport amongst transit and transfer passengers prior to the pandemic, and Executive Vice President of Air Hub & Cargo Development, Changi Airport, Mr. Lim Ching Kiat said it was being brought back with the resumption of travel. He further stated that the Free Singapore Tour was designed for travellers who chose to transfer or transit at Changi to offer them a glimpse of what Singapore has to offer, including the unique attractions and offerings at Jewel Changi Airport and the neighbouring Changi Precinct which had a rich historical and cultural heritage. Together with SIA and STB it was their hope to welcome more passengers who fly through Changi Airport to enjoy a slice of the garden city through the new tours and world-class facilities and attractions.
It was relaunched on the 3rd of April 2023 after a two-year hiatus owing to the pandemic. When transit and transfer passengers accounted for about 30% of passenger traffic at Changi pre-pandemic, the tour was initially introduced in 1987 to enhance the attractiveness of the airport as a transfer hub and entice passengers to visit Singapore as a holiday destination. More than 80,000 passengers took the Free Singapore Tour in 2019, with the top markets being Australia, India and Indonesia with more than one-third of the total participants being made up of Indian and Australian travellers.
Mr. Lee Lik Hsin, Executive Vice President of Commercial, Singapore Airlines said they welcomed the timely relaunch of the Free Singapore Tour. It was enhanced to offer a unique transit experience for their customers and they were pleased to continue working closely with STB and CAG to promote the sustainable growth of travel to and through Singapore.
The Jewel Tour will let participants sample and learn about the food heritage of the city through local brands such as Tong Garden and Bee Cheng Hiang, by taking them to popular attractions like the HSBC Rain Vortex and the Shiseido Forest Valley. It will also provide a free walkthrough of Changi Experience Studio – a digital attraction – to experience some of its airport-themed and interactive exhibits.
The Civic District is included in new pit stops in the City Sights Tour, where travellers will be given an introduction to Singapore’s urban development through visits to various national monuments.
The free 2.5-hour Heritage Tour available from June, takes one back in time to explore the culture and history of Singapore featuring places of interest for a more in-depth comprehension of the unique and diverse multicultural heritage of Singapore. Visitors will drive by the historic Civic District, that has a rich colonial past, and enjoy a walk in the cultural precincts of Kampong Gelam and Chinatown, which will give them some time to take photographs against architectural gems and even grab a unique souvenir as a memento or have a local snack.
Transit and transfer passengers wishing to join the Free Singapore Tour should have a layover period of a minimum of 5.5 hours, but less than 24 hours, and will need to have a valid entry visa for Singapore if they wish to take part in the tours.
Advance bookings are required.
