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The Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) is set to commence operations at the end of this year. Survey results indicate a significant increase in Singaporeans’ willingness to spend across the border. Nearly 60% of respondents said they would visit Johor, Malaysia more frequently for shopping after the line opens, and half are considering renting accommodation locally for weekend outings or short stays.
Lianhe Zaobao reported on the 6th that local research firm Blackbox Research surveyed 507 Singaporeans in July this year regarding the upcoming opening of the RTS. Results showed that 76% of respondents said they would make use of the new service during its first year of operation.
Over half of respondents said that after the line opens, at least once every three months they would go to Johor for shopping (55%), dine at restaurants or cafes (54%), or purchase groceries and daily necessities (51%). Another 43% indicated they might regularly stay overnight in Johor or spend weekends there, and a similar percentage said they would regularly meet up with family and friends.
The Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS will greatly reduce border crossing times. Departing from Woodlands North station, it takes around five minutes to reach Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru. With “co-located customs and immigration clearance” arrangements, passengers can complete both countries' clearance procedures in one go before departure. This setup will make cross-border travel much faster and more convenient, and the long-standing issue of traffic congestion is expected to be significantly alleviated.
Before these survey results were published, the Singapore Business Federation, Restaurant Association of Singapore, and Singapore Retailers Association released a study on July 16th estimating that after operations begin, the number of annual return trips between Singapore and Johor could increase by 11.2 million. According to estimates, Singaporeans’ annual spending in Johor Bahru may rise by about S$1.05 billion (approximately RM3.349 billion), while Johor visitors’ spending in Singapore is expected to increase by about S$756 million (approximately RM2.412 billion). In other words, Singapore’s inbound revenue will be S$294 million (approximately RM938 million) less than its outbound spending, and this deficit accounts for about 0.4% of Singapore’s total retail and food services sales last year.