Singapore Airlines re-launched the Free Singapore Tour after a two-year hiatus

Transit and transfer passengers flying through Singapore Changi Airport can once again experience the Free Singapore Tour, this time with refreshed itineraries and a new Changi Precinct Tour.

 

Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore Airlines (SIA), and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) re-launched the Free Singapore Tour today after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19. Three of the existing tours available since pre-Covid-19 - the City Sights Tour, Heritage Tour, and Jewel Tour – have been refreshed to include new points of interest. A brand-new Changi Precinct Tour will introduce travellers to the interesting sights and sounds of the eastern region

surrounding Singapore Changi Airport. Each tour lasts 2.5 hours and will be available daily, with plans to progressively increase to nine tours a day.

With transit and transfer passengers accounting for about 30% of passenger traffic at

Changi Airport pre-pandemic, the tour was first introduced in 1987 to enhance the airport’s attractiveness as a transfer hub and to entice transit and transfer passengers to visit Singapore as a holiday destination. In 2019, over 80,000 passengers went on the Free Singapore Tour. The top markets were India, Australia, and Indonesia, with Indian and Australian travellers making up more than one third of the total participants.

New Changi Precinct Tour to showcase eastern Singapore

The Changi Precinct Tour is a new itinerary that will bring participants to the eastern

part of Singapore to visit local community spaces such as the Tampines heartland,

and to admire the rustic charms of Changi Village and Changi Beach. It offers a

glimpse of how local residents live, and tells the tale of Singapore’s history on this

part of the island, away from the usual hustle and bustle of Singapore’s city centre.

Refreshed itineraries to offer travellers new experiences

At the Jewel Tour, in addition to visiting popular attractions like the Shiseido Forest

Valley and the HSBC Rain Vortex, participants can now discover more about

Singapore’s food heritage through local brands such as Bee Cheng Hiang and Tong

Garden, and sample local snacks at the same time. Another new component of the

tour is a free guided walkthrough of a digital attraction - Changi Experience Studio -

for participants to experience some of its airport-themed games and interactive

exhibits.

New pit stops in the City Sights Tour include the Civic District, where travellers will

get an introduction to Singapore’s urban development through visits to various

national monuments including the National Gallery Singapore, Anderson Bridge, and

The Padang. The bus route will also pass through the new Marina Bay Financial

District enroute to Gardens by the Bay. The Heritage Tour, available from June, will

feature places of interest such as the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, Arab

Street, and Haji Lane, for participants to gain a more in-depth understanding of

Singapore’s unique and diverse multi-cultural heritage.

 

The refreshed itineraries also highlight sustainability features at some of the

locations featured in the tours, to give participants an overview of Singapore’s

sustainability efforts. These include the Eco Community Garden at the rooftop of Our

Tampines Hub (as part of the Changi Precinct Tour), environmental sustainability

initiatives implemented at Gardens by the Bay (as part of the City Sights Tour) and

Jewel (as part of the Jewel Tour).

 

Monster Day Tours has been appointed by CAG, SIA, and STB to run the Free

Singapore Tours.

Mr Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President of Air Hub & Cargo Development at

CAG, said, “The Free Singapore Tour was very popular among our transit and

transfer passengers prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are happy to bring it

back with the resumption of travel. For travellers who choose to transit or transfer at

Changi Airport, the Free Singapore Tour is designed to give 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 has a rich cultural and historical

heritage. Together with our partners, SIA and STB, we hope to welcome more

passengers who fly through Changi Airport to enjoy a slice of Singapore through our

new tours and world-class attractions and facilities.”

Mr Lee Lik Hsin, Executive Vice President Commercial, Singapore Airlines, said, “We

welcome the timely relaunch of the enhanced Free Singapore Tour, which offers a

unique transit experience for our customers. We are pleased to continue working

closely with CAG and STB to promote the sustainable growth of travel to and

through Singapore.”

Mr Chang Chee Pey, Assistant Chief Executive, Marketing Group, Singapore

Tourism Board, said, "We are delighted to bring back the Free Singapore Tour

through our long-standing partnership with CAG and SIA. It is imperative for us to

refresh our tourism offerings to meet the demand for wellness and eco-conscious

travel, and cater to travellers seeking deeper experiences. We hope that the tour will

inspire transit and transfer passengers to plan a longer trip to Singapore in future,

and discover much more of what our vibrant city has to offer.”

 

Book a tour in advance on new portal

Advance booking is now available on Changi Airport’s website. Transit and transfer

passengers who wish to join the Free Singapore Tour must have a layover period of

at least 5.5 hours but less than 24 hours. Participants will need to have a valid entry

visa for Singapore to take part in the tours.

For more information, visit the Free Singapore Tour page here.

For the detailed tour itineraries, click here – City Sights Tour, Jewel Tour, Changi

Precinct Tour, Heritage Tour.