News

I was appalled to read that the Singapore Tourism Board is investigating an Aug 16 incident in which a group of Chinese tourists alleged that they were abandoned by their tour bus driver following a dispute with him over the purchase of souvenirs. The tourists alleged that the driver had tried to sell them souvenirs, but their purchases failed to meet his expectations. I can understand the driver’s intention to supplement his income with such sales tactics, which must have been done with the knowledge of the tour agency. But I believe that this is not a common practice, whether locally or abroad. The sole responsibility of the tour bus driver is to drive the tourists safely to the designated places, and not to engage in any sales practices. The tour agency should not allow such practices as a way to lower the cost of engaging the bus driver. Tourists must have the freedom to spend their money as they like. They should not be forced or feel obliged to purchase anything from anyone. I cannot imagine the fear of the tourists who were stranded for four hours in unfamiliar areas. The tourism industry contributes 3 to 4 per cent of Singapore’s annual gross domestic product. It creates many good jobs for locals. It is foolhardy to damage our country’s status as a welcoming and safe destination for tourists. Stakeholders should not condone such horrendous handling of tourists. Strong, effective measures must be taken to safeguard the safety of tourists and shield them from any unfair treatment. Perhaps CCTVs should be installed in all tour buses so that any unjustified actions committed by any party can be thoroughly investigated and appropriate punishment levied. This would safeguard the interests of all relevant parties.