Singaporeans opt for local 'staycations' as some hotels get OK to reopen

KUALA LUMPUR (July 17): We have gone for our Cuti-cuti Malaysia vacations as cross state boundaries reopened with the Recovery Movement Control Order and it looks like Singaporeans have the same idea for their own version of a domestic holiday as some of their hotels are allowed to reopen.

TODAY reported that “hundreds of Singaporeans have booked staycations in the first few days since some hotels here got the go-ahead from the authorities to reopen for bookings”.

Singaporeans, like Malaysians, are currently still unable to travel abroad (even to Malaysia).

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on July 3 announced that hotels can apply “to take bookings from guests wanting staycations and to reopen recreational spaces for children”.

“We believe this is attributed to the pent-up demand over the past couple of months due to the extended travel restrictions,” general manager At Parkroyal on Beach Road, Paolo Campillo told the news portal.

His hotel took in more than 20 bookings just one day after reopening on July 14

There are however, still strict safety rules such as the screening of guests, a limit to the number of guests in common areas and the use of disinfection/sanitisers. The hotels will also be making use of the digital SafeEntry contact-tracing system.

Lobby areas cannot have more than one person for every 10 sq m of space, and hotels must follow staggered check-in and check-out timings for guests.

“F&B establishments, spas, sports and recreation facilities, children’s clubs and function areas are also subject to safety protocols,” said the same report.

A hotel has limited its gym use to two persons at a time and guests must “book a time slot of an hour”.

And if suspected or confirmed infected cases break out, “hotels are required to map out response plans, including steps such as isolating confirmed cases and sealing off areas where a confirmed case has visited”, TODAY revealed.

As of July 15, 35 hotels had been given the approval to reopen.

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