Does the Singapore River need to change course to remain relevant?

Older generations value its role in the nation’s history and remember the area’s heyday as a nightlife hub. How can it better appeal to a younger crowd who may be going out less?

- Michelle Koh

As a student in the 1980s, I would visit the Singapore River every year, because my piano examinations were in the nearby Victoria Concert Hall. I would then head with my parents to Empress Place Food Centre, in front of what is now the Asian Civilisations Museum.

The stench that rose from the river was horrible, but the food aroma helped mask the worst of it. Still, I would quickly polish off a bowl of beef noodles in order to get away.

How things have changed since then. The hawker centres have long been relocated, and the river is vastly more pleasant. Today, it is now one of Singapore's most iconic destinations, layered with history, resilience and countless personal stories.

Past generations have seen the transformation of the Singapore River and how it shaped national identity. To the older folks, the river is emotionally significant because it reflects the country's growth and their memories of its bustling trade and community life.

Many also have fond memories of fun times at its bars and eateries. In the 1990s and 2000s, Boat Quay and Clarke Quay brimmed with the after-work drinks crowd. Bumboats, once essential for trade, became a tourist attraction.

Then came the pandemic, with these areas hit by soaring rents, falling foot traffic, and changing consumer habits.

So how can the area continue to stay relevant for the next generation — one that may not be so emotionally invested in the river’s history?

Regulations for nightlife businesses in Boat Quay and Clarke Quay were recently loosened in a bid to give the area a chance to thrive.

But the Singapore River has to be more than a tourist destination or nightlife hub. It must continue to be a place where Singaporeans reflect on their history, culture and evolving identity.

INSPIRATION FROM OTHER RIVERS AND CITIES