A Holiday At Home

Once seen as the less exciting alternative to an exotic destination holiday, the staycation takes on new importance.

- Renee Batchelor

With overseas travel at some of the lowest levels ever (compared to the past 30 years) because of the pandemic, the island-state of Singapore has been harder hit than most countries when it comes to offering its residents some degree of variety when it comes to domestic tourism. With much of the country’s natural landscape having being razed down to make way for housing and other developments, the idea of land scarcity extends to all aspects of life, all the way down to the availability of free spaces for hiking, picnicking and other leisure activities. The strict global travel restrictions of 2020 prompted the Singapore Tourism Board to launch a campaign to “Rediscover Singapore” for its 5.8 million restless residents. Even then, many of those who live and work here have been spoiled by constant overseas travel in the past, and have found the offerings within the island limited, and somewhat pedestrian.

With strict travel restrictions in place for the foreseeable future, staycations have become the primary means of holidaying for most Singaporeans and a lifeline for the island’s 400 plus hotels who have traditionally depended heavily on overseas tourists. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel is one of the most prominent landmarks in Singapore. With an iconic silhouette of three towers with a boat-like structure — the Skypark — right at the very top, it has become an architectural symbol of Singapore. A pop culture reference and shorthand for instant geographical identification, it has been featured in everything from movies to manga.