Mr Seva Baskin, a visitor from eastern European country Belarus, left his rented apartment in Singapore at midnight on a Friday sometime in early November. He was intending to check out a bar, only to realise that all MRT train services for the day had already ended.
“(That timing) is quite early for European standards. Usually, when I go out in Europe, public transport works late. And in Singapore, as soon as the clock strikes 12, taxi prices double from what it was in the daytime,” the 31-year-old founder of a real estate technology startup said.
Mr Baskin, who recently spent three months in Singapore while working remotely, wanted to immerse himself in local culture. He thought that bars would be good places to mingle with Singaporeans.
However, the lack of affordable transport options in the wee hours made him wonder what nightlife in Singapore would be like, and what type of people he would see at these night establishments.
“Who can then afford to go out? Are young people going out early and then trying to be home by 12, or is it the people with money who are going out? So was I going to meet a diverse audience, or just rich people?” Mr Baskin asked.
His concerns and doubts were shared by many foreigners, Singaporeans and nightlife business operators who spoke to CNA TODAY over the past week.
Early closing times at clubs, prohibitive costs of alcohol and private transport, as well as more people choosing to stay at home have led to a lacklustre nightlife scene, which had already been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Capucine Picquet, a 20-year-old exchange student, felt that there was not much to do here due to how expensive partying has become.
Although she appreciates that entry to Zouk, a popular nightclub, is free for students, she said that alcohol prices here are at least twice as much as in France, her home country.
“Clubs here also close quite early. I remember Zouk closed at 4am. In France, it’s more like between 5am and 7am,” she added.
This early closing, combined with other factors, is not only putting pressure on bars to survive but also diminishing the vibrancy of Singapore’s nightlife. Experts warned that this could ultimately reduce the country’s appeal as a tourist destination.
Dr Lewis Lim, an associate professor of marketing practice at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), said: “Together with the late-night food and beverage (F&B) options, nightlife, with all the neon lights, loud music and fashionably dressed crowds adds energy, chicness and a bit of that naughtiness that a world-class city needs in order to attract tourists.”
Thus, even a slight reduction in the lustre of nightlife industry should be of grave concern for government and for industry, with long-term effects on Singapore’s brand positioning and economy, he added.
