While the haze in Singapore seems to have subsided somewhat on Sunday, it offers little relief after over a week of unhealthy air, which ended with the 24-hour PSI hitting a high of 230 in the west of the island. The PSI forecast for tomorrow, 19th October remains in the unhealthy range of between 101 and 200. Several businesses have seen their revenues fall so far this month, and while multiple factors are usually involved, many cite the haze as a major reason.
This year has been compared with some of the worst haze seasons in previous years. According to an NTU study published in 2021, the total cost of the 2015 haze episode, which lasted for two months, was estimated at $1.83 billion, in both tangible and intangible costs. This amounts to 0.45% of that year’s GDP.
#1 Tourism And Attractions
Tourism, as one of Singapore’s largest industries, will naturally be most affected by a prolonged haze period. Several Instagram reels from influencers have pointed out the relatively low visibility at the Marina Bay area, where the iconic Marina Bay Sands is often cloaked in haze.
Walking tours and some tourist cruises have also been affected. Reportedly, some businesses have claimed a drop in bookings of up to 30% compared to last year. The same report noted that Singapore River cruise tours have not seen a drop in bookings during this period.
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#2 Food & Beverage
Several food & beverage businesses are likely to be affected by the haze, especially outdoor cafes and bars, such as those at East Coast Park, which tend to have more outdoor al fresco settings.
Naturally, with calls to reduce or even avoid outdoor activities, these locations have seen a significant drop in customer footfall, with a reported 50% drop in visits to East Coast Park.
Even hawker centres, being open air, have struggled, especially in the west of Singapore, which has seen the highest 24-hour PSI readings as well as the highest 1-hour PM2.5 readings on most days. Not only have overall visitors dropped, but some hawkers have reportedly seen weekend business drop by up to 80 per cent because they’re not listed on food delivery platforms.
#3 Events & Entertainment
Several upcoming outdoor events have opted to postpone or cancel their activities as the haze worsens.
The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) was going to hold the 11th edition of its ISCA Run yesterday, Saturday 17th October, but announced on Thursday morning that it would be cancelled. About 3,000 participants, families, volunteers and staff were expected at the event.
The Singapore Polo Club’s annual SPC Outreach Polo Tournament & Carnival was also expected on the same Saturday, but the announcement came on Wednesday that it would be postponed due to the haze. In its announcement, SPC assured those who purchased coupons and VIP tables that they would remain valid for the rescheduled event.
The Purple Parade, Singapore’s largest movement to support inclusion and celebrate Persons with Disabilities, was originally scheduled for next weekend, 24 October 2026. However, on Friday afternoon, it was announced that it would now be postponed to the first half of 2027. The organisers considered moving the event indoors, but cited the event’s scale and complexity, as well as venue availability and logistical requirements, as the reasons for postponing it instead. According to the FAQ they released, this is likely to be the only Purple Parade in 2027.
While other major events, such as the F1 Night Race and the BigBang concert, went on despite the haze, cancelling or postponing events will largely incur high costs that are unlikely to be recouped.
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#4 Outdoor Sports
Just like other outdoor events, another industry affected by the haze are outdoor sports. The Singapore FA Cup final and third-place playoff scheduled for Saturday 17th October have been postponed. Both matches were scheduled to be held at Jurong East Stadium, where the PSI readings have exceeded 200.
Under the haze management protocol set out by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and the Singapore Premier League (SPL), matches can proceed only when the 24-hour PSI forecast is 200 or below, and the 1-hour PM2.5 reading is within the normal or elevated bands, or below 150. Stricter thresholds apply to youth football.
Under these thresholds, the latest season of the SPL, which started in September, has continued as usual this weekend.
Several outdoor ActiveSG facilities were also temporarily closed throughout the week since Wednesday afternoon, affecting sports coaches who rely on these venues to run sessions. Reportedly, some coaches have had more than 80% of their lessons cancelled over the past two weeks. The ActiveSG facilities only reopened on Saturday.
#5 Retail
The retail industry in Singapore is too broad to accurately discuss the financial impact of the haze. A drop in tourism may affect some retail businesses, especially those along Orchard Road, and the haze may affect locations focused on outdoor activities, such as One Holland Village, The Star Vista, and CQ @ Clarke Quay.
Furthermore, the spike in interest for N95 or equivalent masks, as well as air coolers and air purifiers, has been a boost for some businesses, especially the personal health stores like Watsons and Guardian, or electronic appliance shops like Harvey Norman, Gain City or COURTS.
Overall, Singapore’s familiarity with online shopping allows most retailers to remain in business, as spending is shifting online rather than disappearing altogether.
Read Also: Price Guide To N95 Masks And Equivalent In Singapore
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