SINGAPORE - Private van operators have reportedly been touting
for business at Sentosa Beach Station, and according to a concerned
member of the public, it is getting out of hand.
Likened to vultures, the touts were described as "aggressive"
and "persistent" in pushing for tourists to take up their services,
according to Mr Dennis Kuang, who wrote in to citizen journalism
website Stomp about the issue.
According to him, there are as many as 10 private van operators
touting every night between 7.45pm to 9.45pm, especially during
weekends.
The touts apparently charge each tourist $10 for a short trip
between Sentosa and VivoCity or $25 for longer distances to other
destinations outside of the island.
Concerned about the negative impression that
touting might give to visitors, Mr Kuang said: "They can be
rather aggressive and persistent in touting their services and when
the crowd dies down, most of them would position themselves in
front of the taxi stand like vultures waiting to pick on the
remaining visitors."
"They spread themselves out at Sentosa Beach Station after the
Songs of the Sea performance, whereby many tourists and visitors
are rushing towards the taxi stand/monorail station."
"The presence and behaviour of these private van operators at a tourist hot spot is shocking and
sends out a very bad impression of Singapore," he added.
Mr Kuang suspects that the touts have gone undetected because
there are usually large crowds of people at the Sentosa Beach
Station and it will be hard for the authorities to tell the touts -
dressed in plain clothes - apart from the visitors.
Sentosa told AsiaOne that it is investigating the incident.
Director of Security of Sentosa Leisure Group, Mr Koh Piak Huat,
said: "Guest experience is our priority and we certainly do not
condone any form of illegal touting and harassment of our
guests."
"Members of the public can approach any Sentosa staff if they
encounter such situations," he added.
The island operator also advised guests leaving Sentosa from the
Sentosa Beach Station to use the Sentosa Express or licensed bus
and taxi operators.
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