Supporting Revival of Trishaw Services to Preserve Culture and Heritage

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 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.