Supporting Revival of Trishaw Services to Preserve Culture and Heritage
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Hany Soh’s inquiry on whether the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) intends to support the revival of trishaw services to preserve local culture and heritage. Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that trishaw tours ceased last year when the lease for Trishaw Park at Queen Street expired due to planned developments in the area. STB granted the operator four lease extensions between 2019 and 2023 and worked with several government agencies to explore alternative sites, though no suitable locations were found. The Minister noted that while trishaws were a popular mode of transportation until the 1950s, they now primarily serve tourists wishing to experience Singapore’s social history. Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that STB remains prepared to support the resumption of trishaw tours if an operator is able to find a suitable site.
Transcript
106 Ms Hany Soh asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Singapore Tourism Board intends to support the revival of trishaw services in Singapore in order to preserve our local culture and heritage; and (b) if not, how else can such local culture and heritage be preserved.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Mr Speaker, my response today will also cover the Parliamentary Question filed by Mr Dennis Tan on trishaw services in Singapore for a subsequent Sitting. If Mr Dennis Tan is satisfied with the response, he may wish to withdraw his question after this session.
The trishaw, once a popular mode of transportation in Singapore until the 1950s, holds a special place in our social and transport history. Today, trishaw rides are no longer a common means of travel and mainly ferry tourists who are keen to experience the Singapore of yesteryear.
Trishaw tours ceased last year, when the lease of Trishaw Park at Queen Street expired. With planned developments in the area, Trishaw Park would no longer be conducive for trishaw operations. Before trishaw tours ceased last year, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) extended the lease of Trishaw Park four times between 2019 and 2023. STB granted the extensions to give the operator, Trishaw Uncle, more time to find new sites for its operations. During this period, STB and several Government agencies worked with Trishaw Uncle to explore several sites. Unfortunately, none were found suitable.
STB is prepared to support the resumption of trishaw tours if any operator is able to find a suitable site.