Home / Environment / Haze Chokes Singapore Businesses
Haze Chokes Singapore Businesses
28 Oct
Summary
- Food stall owners consider closing due to decreased footfall.
- Customer numbers dropped by 60% for some hawkers.
- Businesses cite haze, rising costs, and health concerns.
The persistent haze in Singapore has severely impacted local businesses, leading some food stall owners to consider closure. Zaiton Bee, a hawker at Tekka Centre, has seen her daily customer count drop from 500 to 200, forcing her to contemplate shutting down her decade-old Muslim food stall due to the combined pressures of low business and high monthly costs.
This decline in footfall, which has seen a 30% drop for some, is particularly concerning as it occurs during the lead-up to Deepavali, a usually busy period. The unhealthy air quality, which has persisted for 12 consecutive days as of October 16, 2026, is driving elderly customers indoors and prompting others to eat elsewhere or at home.
Businesses across the industry are feeling the pinch. Restaurants like Harry's have reported a 40% decrease in footfall, with even cordoned-off outdoor areas failing to attract customers. The situation is compounded by other economic pressures, such as a beverage container return scheme and a GST hike to 9%, leading many hawkers to hope for government financial aid.
