SINGAPORE — Even though more than two people from the same household are allowed to be in one hotel room for their staycation, they should not be together when they leave their room, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Monday (May 17).

Instead, they have to split into groups of up to two people when outside their room, to be in line with the tightened Covid-19 measures which permit group sizes of only two people in public, said an STB spokesperson.

“Guests on staycation who are from the same household will not mingle with members of the public when they remain in their room,” said the spokesperson in response to TODAY’s query on why its rules for families on staycation seemed incongruous with the national measures which began on Sunday and last until June 13. 

STB had said in an advisory on Friday that no more than two people can gather on any given day in a hotel room or in rooms connected by an adjoining door.

The only exception is for family members who have the same address on their identity cards, it said.

Guests who have made hotel bookings between May 16 and June 13 may change their booking dates or ask for a refund subject to terms and conditions, STB added.

SingapoRediscovers Vouchers used for such hotel bookings can be refunded. 

Staycation guests will also not be allowed to dine at hotel restaurants and will have to take away their food or have it delivered to their rooms.

Singapore on Sunday entered “Phase 2 (heightened alert)” amid a rise in Covid-19 cases in the wider community, several of which have not been traced to any previous infections.

Hoteliers have told TODAY that many family bookings have been postponed to later in the year after the new measures were announced last Friday. Most couples, however, have decided to go ahead with their staycation plans.

A hotel group has also said it is exploring various activities for guests in their rooms, such as an “art jamming” staycation package and providing virtual reality game consoles.

Cruise operations, meanwhile, will continue operations but with an operating capacity cut to 25 per cent, down from 50 per cent.

Several cruise activities will also have to be adjusted to be in line with the tightened Covid-19 guidelines.

STB said on Monday that the reduction in capacity for the pilot cruises is similar to attractions on land and in line with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines for Phase 2 (heightened alert).