Efficient quarantine systems, an essential factor enabling Singapore to kickstart tourism

More than 70 hotels in the city-state served as stay-home notices (SHN) facilities since March 2020  

Singapore pips Hong Kong in quarantine facilities for visitors and returnees, providing an advantage for the city-state in resuming business travels to boost the local economy, reported South China Morning Post.  

According to tourism and government officials of both cities, one in every four Singapore hotels is utilised as a facility for stay-home notices (SHN), compared with one in 10 in Hong Kong. 

In other words, Singapore has more than double the number of SHN facilities as Hong Kong, even if Singapore has 17 percent fewer hotels.  

Hervé Guinebert, Banque Transatlantique’s Hong Kong managing director, said, “Singapore’s system is more efficient and more convenient, especially if they can guarantee a decent room and a decent hotel.” 

More: Singapore private property prices increase 3.3% in Q1

As stated by the Singapore Tourism Board, more than 70 hotels in Singapore, or 26.3 percent of the 226 in the Lion City, have served as SHN facilities since March 2020.  

On the other hand, Hong Kong assigned 33 hotels, or 11 percent of the city’s 312 licensed hotels, to serve as quarantine venues from June 20 until August 31.  

The comparison provides an important insight into the practicality of each city’s preparedness to take up travelling again, as higher vaccination rates and the contained spreading of COVID-19 triggered discussions to reopen borders.