CHANGI VILLAGE (Tourist stopover point)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Finance (a) whether he will request the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to arrange with tour agencies for more east coast tours to include Changi Village, as the present number of tours per month is inadequate to enhance the shopkeepers' business in the Housing and Development Board flats in the Village; and (b) whether he will request the STPB to arrange for some cultural performances in the park near the HDB flats as entertainment for tourists.

Mr Goh Chok Tong (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB) has been working closely with tour operators and travel agents to promote Changi Village as a tourist stopover point. In April 1977, STPB inaugurated a "special interest" Changi and East Coast Tour. As an incentive, all tourists who visit Changi Village in any each coast conducted tour are given a free drink coupon by STPB.

Today, eight major travel agents in Singapore conduct regular east coast tours to Changi Village and other places of interest like Selarang Barracks, East Coast Lagoon, Changi Murals and Changi Prison. The number of tours per month to Changi Village has increased from 96 in April 1977 to 104 in February this year.

The STPB will continue to work closely with tour operators to increase the number of tourists visiting Changi Village. Besides existing activities, the Board will also be helping to finance part of a project to beautify Changi Village.

At present, the most popular cultural performance for tourists is the Instant Asia Cultural Show. The STPB is building a cultural theatre behind Handicraft Centre in the vicinity of Orchard Road to promote more cultural programmes in Singapore. When the building is completed, it is planned to stage the Instant Asia Cultural Show there, as it is the most convenient location for tourists and easily accessible to locals.

While most of the future cultural performances promoted by STPB will be centred in the new cultural theatre or in hotels and convention centres for special conventions, the STPB will be requested to look into the possibility of arranging occasional cultural performances in parks near Housing and Development Board estates for tourists and locals as part of its cultural development programme.

Mr Baptist: Sir, does that mean that the park near the HDB estate in Changi will be utilised for such cultural shows?

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Sir, the STPB will be requested to look into the possibility of arranging occasional cultural performances in parks in HDB estates, including Changi Village.

Mr Baptist: Sir, could I suggest to the Senior Minister of State that he should not have these cultural shows at the park in Changi because of the noise problem when the airport -

Mr Speaker: Mr Baptist, what is your supplementary question?

Mr Baptist: Sir, does the Senior Minister of State not realise that with the noise pollution from the airport these cultural shows will not be a success?

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Sir, when the airport is in operation, the shows will then be conducted in the theatre behind the Handicraft Centre.