Date of publication: 14-05-2013
A new breed of touts offers tourists discounted tickets to Singapore attractions, to the chagrin of the tourism sector.
In the past week, The Straits Times observed them touting for customers at Mustafa Centre and Merlion Park. Some offer to sell the discounted tickets only. Others sell only together with flat-rate mini-rides.
According to the members of the NTUC tourist guide chapter, these touts also was seen outside attractions like the numbers from the sea in Sentosa and the Singapore Flyer.
Visits to various travel agencies in landmark Village Hotel and Chinatown also found that tickets were sold on to 50 percent.
For example, were adult tickets to Universal Studios Singapore sold at S $ 62, down from S $ 74. Singapore Flyer tickets are also available for $ 16, instead of the usual $ 33 and tickets to visit the Night Safari, which usually costs S $ 35, is offered for S $ 24.
These sales are violating the rules, say those who walk from the attractions.
Tickets are sold in bulk to authorised travel agencies at a discount. "The more agents to buy tickets, the better deal they get," said Ngee Ann Polytechnic senior lecturer in tourism Michael Chiam.
But these agents are not allowed to offer to third parties, for example the touts for resale. "Travel agencies are allowed to use their tickets only for incoming or foreign arrivals. These conditions are listed in our agreements, "said a spokesman for Resorts World Sentosa, who described the law as an" illegal activity ".
A spokesman for the Singapore Flyer also said agents are only entered into the list price to sell tickets.
That hasn't stopped the problem of deterioration recently, due to the increase in the number of tourists, and a lack of enforcement, according to the National Association of travel agents Singapore.
President of incoming travel Judy Lum believes that some travel agencies offload tickets, which usually expire after a certain date, to third parties when they are not selling them to their usual customers.
"If this practice is out of control, customers will prefer to look at such touts for the purchase of cheaper tickets instead," she said.
"Then, attractions can choose not to sell tickets in bulk for travel agents, since they will be making a loss. This will eventually affect the General attractiveness of travel packages offered to tourists. "
The issue, said Mr Loganathan, 53, a NTUC Tourist Guide Chapter Member, has posed to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in dialogue sessions. "These touts stealing from our company. Why should they gain access to cheap tickets? What's the point of a licensed Guide? "
The issues "can also a lot of dissatisfaction with tourists who expect prices to be equal. Improve the industry image ", added Chiam.
When told about the discounted tickets, Singaporean Michelle low, 32, said: "I feel cheated." The engineer recently spent about S $ 100 the Singapore Flyer ride with her parents-in-law with tickets they bought in the attraction.
The STB said pricing and business partnerships were "market driven, and created by the attractions themselves". But the Director of attractions, restaurants and retail Ranita Sundramoorthy added that touting is illegal, and reminded tourists and locals to buy tickets directly from the attraction or of approved establishments.
Vietnamese tourist David Ngo, 50, who was approached by a tout last Tuesday in Mustafa Centre, rejected the offer. "What if they Send me off on some place else?" he asked. "I'm amazed. I don't think Singapore had touts. "
US $ 1 = S $ 1.24
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