SMS S Iswaran's reply to Parliament Questions on transit hotels in residential areas

Question No 392 of Notice Paper No 69 of 2010

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr. Christopher de Souza (MP Holland-Bukit Timah GRC)

Question
To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) if his Ministry is aware that allowing hourly-rated or transit hotels in residential areas results in sex workers plying their trade in the neighborhood and causes distress to residents; (b) what measures will his Ministry implement to prohibit the issuance of licenses to charge hourly rates to hotels operating in residential areas; and (c) whether his Ministry will consider only permitting hourly-rated or transit hotels near the airport and not in residential areas.

Answer
While I understand the Member’s concerns over the establishment of hotels offering transit rates near their homes, it is important to point out that such hotels should not automatically be associated with vice. Hotels offer transit rates to meet the accommodation needs of a diverse group of customers including travellers, shipping crew, day trippers, and even locals for social gatherings. Hence, it is not practical for such hotels to restrict only to locations near the airport as they do serve the needs of various groups other than air travellers.

Like many major cities around the world, Singapore allows hotels the flexibility to set their operating model, as long as they meet the necessary requirements

Notwithstanding this, the Hotel Licensing Board (HLB) will not hesitate to take firm action against hotels when there is evidence that they have been facilitating vice-related activities. Penalties against offending hotels can range from disallowing transit rates to revoking the operating license of the hotel.

To complement this set of downstream penalties against offending hotels, the HLB has, since September 2009, also implemented a set of upfront measures to tighten the regulation of hotels offering transit rates. All hotels intending to offer transit rates are now required to indicate the reasons for doing so in their license renewal applications. To ensure the safety of guests and to curb possible illegal activities, all hotels will have to propose security and preventive measures, for example the installation of CCTVs in common areas and the deployment of security guards. For new hotels which are setting up in residential areas, the hotel will also be required to engage the community. The HLB, in consultation with other agencies, reviews each license application on its merits and conducts physical checks to ensure that hotels implement the security measures stated.

I would like to assure Members that the HLB is monitoring the situation closely, and will continue to work closely with all government agencies and the industry to mitigate any social disamenities that might arise from hotel operations.