There is barely a queue for taxis at Singapore's Changi Airport Terminal 3. Chinese travellers make up a third of Changi Airport's retail sales. (Photo: www.straitstimes.com)Singapore (VNA) - The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Singapore’s aviationsector will be worse than that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)outbreak in 2003, according to Singaporean Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.
This isbecause China is now a much larger market and a much larger source of tourismfor Singapore and the region, he said.
Khaw saidChina travellers accounted for 5 percent of Changi Airport's travelling trafficduring the SARS crisis.
Now, they makeup 11 percent. But the purchasing power has increased even more. They accountfor one-third of retail sales in Changi, and the one-third has evaporated, headded.
Of particularconcern is the retail sector at Changi Airport, with about 7,000 to 8,000 staffemployed there. Many families would be affected if companies start retrenchingtheir staff, he noted.
The ministersaid local airlines like Singapore Airlines, Scoot and SilkAir are also suffering,along with retail shops.
The trafficbetween China and Singapore has come down significantly because flights haveshrunk 70 percent to 80 percent, and traffic volume has come down by 60 percentto 70 percent.
With this in mind, theGovernment is working on a budget that will help support the sector, Khaw said./.
VNA
