Tour operator Journeys appointed as new operator of Haw Par Villa

SINGAPORE — Tour operator Journeys has been appointed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to operate and manage Haw Par Villa for three years, starting Aug 1 this year.

Journeys will undertake the park’s programming as well as the management of potential retail and food and beverage spaces within the attraction, said the STB in a press release today (Aug 21).

The contract includes an option to renew for two further terms of three years each.

On its website, Journeys describes itself as a travel company with a special expertise in heritage-based tours in Singapore. It says its team includes historians, researchers, educators, writers and guides specialised in various subject fields.

Ms Ranita Sundramoorthy, Director of Attractions, Dining and Retail, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “Haw Par Villa is an attraction of significant heritage value to our nation, and one that is steeped in our history.

“With Journeys’ expertise in heritage-based tours in Singapore, we believe that they will be able to enliven Haw Par Villa with interesting concepts that will appeal to both locals and tourists, whilst conserving the integrity of the park.”

Director of Journeys Chan Ying-Loone said: “Our vision has always been to position Singapore as a heritage destination of choice and with Haw Par Villa, we aim to return it to its former glory and more.”

Journeys launched the Cultured Leopard, Rising Tiger guided tour of Haw Par Villa as part of STB’s Tourism 50 Campaign last year. The company said the tour was “hugely oversubscribed” and has since been extended to educate visitors about the stories surrounding the landscape of the attraction.

The company launched The Original Singapore Walks tour in 2003, which brings people off the beaten track, to places such as graveyards, wet markets and smoke houses.

Haw Par Villa will remain open daily to all visitors and admission into the park is free.