With travel restrictions, more flock to Singapore islands for leisure
SINGAPORE: Passengers, many belongings picnic mats and cooler boxes, streamed from the packed ferry to the St John'southward Island jetty terminal Sunday forenoon (Oct 25), taking selfies and videos of the island as they landed.
Almost headed to a causeway linking St John's and Lazarus Island, which was already dotted with anglers. In a sheltered bay, free divers and scuba divers were practising and conducting courses.
The day trippers continued on to grassy areas and the beach on Lazarus, where they jumped in the water or enjoyed picnics with friends and family.
At one stretch of the beach, Mr Ahmad Taufik Mohtar, 33, and his extended family had gear up iii tents and were well-equipped for a day at the beach with swim gear, line-fishing rods and food.
"Nosotros planned this trip because I think we are running out of places to go in Singapore," he said. "At least we Singaporeans have a chance to wander effectually and larn new things or new areas."
With travel still restricted, residents in Singapore have been flocking to the outlying islands on their days off.
Ferry services told CNA that demand for their services has picked up significantly and more people are visiting the southern islands such every bit Kusu and St John's.
Mr Ryden Fang of Singapore Island Cruise & Ferry Services, said that since the starting time of Stage two, ridership has gone up 20 to 30 per cent on both weekdays and weekends.
READ: Man fined S$three,000 for gathering with eleven others on Lazarus Island amid COVID-19 outbreak
"To cope with the need, we have increased our ferry frequencies, deployed additional ferries to and hired additional manpower to act as safe distancing ambassadors/ushers at the pier," he said in an email.
Marina S Ferries said they have nearly l per cent more business than before the circuit breaker.
"Now we see a lot more than Singaporeans rediscovering Singapore," said director Eric Wong.
"Mondays and Fridays see a substantial increment in traffic at present (as) people are clearing go out domestically."
READ: COVID-19: Annual Kusu Island pilgrimage express to 500 people a twenty-four hour period
He said that while the slightly older or religious people would head down to Kusu Island, the younger oversupply head to Lazarus Island and St John'due south Island.
At that place are too more adventurous visitors going to Sisters' Island to snorkel at the marine park.
During the Kusu pilgrimage flavor, which is from Oct 17 to Nov 14, those who want to visit the island must brand a reservation.
The number of visitors is limited to 500 people a 24-hour interval, and the capacity has been reached on weekends, the Singapore Land Authorization has said.
More VISITING PULAU UBIN
In that location's besides been an uptick of business for shops on Pulau Ubin, which comes as a relief for Ubin shopowners afterward they had to shut for the "circuit breaker" due to COVID-nineteen.
Ms Koh Bee Choo, who runs Comfort Wheel Rental & Trading, said that business has gone up most xxx per cent on weekends. She has likewise seen slightly more people on weekdays.
When CNA was there on a Th morn, there was a continuous stream of cyclists renting rides from her store near the jetty.
Ms Koh, who has lived on Pulau Ubin for five decades, said she hopes this continues as she wants more people to enjoy nature and the outdoors.
"I've seen more Malaysians visit, I call back considering they can't become back domicile," she said in Mandarin.
A van driver, who asked non to be named, said that his vehicle has had more bookings for tours and rides around the isle to see its sights, such equally the Pekan Quarry and Chek Jawa. A seafood eating place CNA visited too said that the number of customers on weekends take gone upward about 10 to 20 per cent.
The National Parks Board (NParks) said there has been a significant increase in visitorship beyond Singapore'south nature reserves, gardens and parks since the starting time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Pulau Ubin, at that place was an increase from 5,700 visitors in Apr to 39,000 in September. In by years, the island sees around 20,000 visitors in September, said a spokeswoman.
NParks said that with an increment in visitorship, it encourages all visitors to exist socially responsible and to continue light-green spaces safety for everyone.
"Nosotros urge anybody to play their part past putting on masks when non engaging in strenuous exercises or consuming nutrient, drink or medication, and observe a safe distance of at to the lowest degree one metre from other visitors, for their own rubber and for those around them," it said.
"Visitors should as well keep to groups of no more than than 5 people, and not intermix between groups.
"On Pulau Ubin, nosotros encourage visitors to refrain from crowding around the main village and jetty expanse and movement to open up spaces where possible."
Visitors are also encouraged to check safedistparks.nparks.gov.sg for the latest updates on visitorship levels before visiting greenish spaces.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-islands-st-johns-lazarus-pulau-ubin-189056
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