SECTION_NAME:WRITTEN ANSWER TO QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER NOT <BR>ANSWERED BY 3.00 PM

Column: 2903

**WRITTEN ANSWER TO QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER NOT
ANSWERED BY 3.00 PM **

**

BUDGET HOTELS

**

5.

Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for National Development what is the Government's policy with regard to budget hotels, which seem to have mushroomed all over the island for the purpose of promoting tourism but which could also breed prostitution and other undesirable activities.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: The current policy for hotels and boarding houses is to allow them in locations zoned Hotel or Commercial. Within sites with mixed use zoning, such as Commercial/Residential and Residential with 1st-storey Commercial, hotels and boarding houses are allowed on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the compatibility of boarding houses with the existing uses in the location.

The development of backpacker hostels and budget hotels is to meet the needs of the changing profile of our visitors. With the advent of budget travel and growth in value-conscious markets such as China and India , Singapore Tourism Board (STB) anticipates an increase in demand for such accommodation.

The primary objective of Government's policy regarding budget hotel is to cater to the needs of budget travelers, while ensuring that boarding houses would not create adverse impact on the amenity of the area. To minimise the possibility of these boarding houses breeding undesirable activities, URA works closely with the Police (Anti-Vice Branch). Police would also monitor areas where vice activities are prevalent and, if necessary, conduct surprise checks on these hotels and boarding houses to flush out these undesirable activities within them.

The Hotel Licensing Board and STB also inspect the budget hotels to ensure minimum standards are met. This is taken into consideration during the yearly licence renewal exercise.