Compare the Proposals by the Singapore Tourism Board (Stb) in Enhancing the Chinatown Experience and the Response of the Singapore Heritage Society (Shs) in Rethinking Chinatown. What Is the Rationale for the Proposals

Chinatown in Singapore was once a bustling region when large population came from China to seek fortunes. It tells the story of how people lived, traded and worshipped in the past. It becomes a fount of history where people now can reach back to and learn how and who made this country developed. Chinatown becomes Singapore’s national heritage as a living presence of the past. However, at a later time, Chinatown is not as bustling as before. There is a declining in commercial activities. It needs to be redeveloped to keep its unique and irreplaceable ability as national heritage. Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Heritage Society (SHS) both show great concerns about how to bring back the vibrant Chinatown. However, since their goals are quite different--STB wants to make use of Chinatown’s heritage to vitalize tourism business to make money while SHS concerns for the social and cultural well-being of Chinatown, their opinions are of great difference though they still share some basic ideas.

From the proposal it is clear that STB aims to develop a unifying character for existing products. Also it tends to includes everything Chinese to make the place more “Chineseness”. Village theatre is an integrated complex where people can shop, drink, eat and learn.   Interpretative centre is where stories of old times will be told. The theme streets are designed that each street will have a specific theme according to its special kind of trade. The elementary gardens and the decorative road signs, road lamps, storyboards all enhanced the Chinese character. Everything there displays a unifying character. According to STB, visitors can eat traditional Chinese food, listen to Xiangsheng and watch other special performance. Everything they feel there is kind of Chinese tradition. In that way, while relaxing and having fun, visitors are immersed in a traditional Chinese atmosphere, grasping and appreciating the diverse heritage of Chinatown. The rationale is: to develop...