Roles of Urban Redevelopment authority in Tourism Planning
Introduction to Urban Redevelopment Authority
The Urban Redevelopment Authority, also known as URA in short, is an independent statutory board under the Ministry of National Development which took on roles in the planning of the land use of Singapore, as well as being the conversation authority. Their mission is “to make Singapore a great city to live, work and play in” which means that the objectives of URA are channelled into attaining the broad vision of turning Singapore into a unique destination for tourist, while a liveable city for its citizen. These objectives include the conservation of heritage buildings, ensuring sustainability with the limited amount of resources Singapore have, the further development of new and iconic infrastructure for Singapore, as well as ensuring the interests of the different stakeholders are being met. At the same time, URA ensures that the stakeholders’ interests and welfare do not compromise that of each other.
Role of URA in Tourism Planning
URA plays a big part in influencing tourism planning in Singapore due to the significance of their authority and land panning decisions. With the master plan and concept plan both panning out and segmenting the land according to different uses for the future, places which want to transform and become a tourism site will have to be under these designated land, which URA authorizes.
Examples such as building a hotel property, a resort enclave or a theme park, would have to have their projects undertaken at stipulated sites that URA has had identified and properly zoned. Strict rules and guidelines will also be implemented to prevent the misuse of the properties. According to URA’s website, it was stated that a hotel cannot be converted to other forms of uses if it falls under certain criteria which URA had stated. Two of the criteria stated would be that hotels would have to be located on sites zoned for hotel use in the Master Plan, as well as the rule that hotels can too be located within
The Urban Redevelopment Authority, also known as URA in short, is an independent statutory board under the Ministry of National Development which took on roles in the planning of the land use of Singapore, as well as being the conversation authority. Their mission is “to make Singapore a great city to live, work and play in” which means that the objectives of URA are channelled into attaining the broad vision of turning Singapore into a unique destination for tourist, while a liveable city for its citizen. These objectives include the conservation of heritage buildings, ensuring sustainability with the limited amount of resources Singapore have, the further development of new and iconic infrastructure for Singapore, as well as ensuring the interests of the different stakeholders are being met. At the same time, URA ensures that the stakeholders’ interests and welfare do not compromise that of each other.
Role of URA in Tourism Planning
URA plays a big part in influencing tourism planning in Singapore due to the significance of their authority and land panning decisions. With the master plan and concept plan both panning out and segmenting the land according to different uses for the future, places which want to transform and become a tourism site will have to be under these designated land, which URA authorizes.
Examples such as building a hotel property, a resort enclave or a theme park, would have to have their projects undertaken at stipulated sites that URA has had identified and properly zoned. Strict rules and guidelines will also be implemented to prevent the misuse of the properties. According to URA’s website, it was stated that a hotel cannot be converted to other forms of uses if it falls under certain criteria which URA had stated. Two of the criteria stated would be that hotels would have to be located on sites zoned for hotel use in the Master Plan, as well as the rule that hotels can too be located within
References: About URA. (2013, May 26). Retrieved from www.ura.gov.sg: http://www.ura.gov.sg/about/ura-intro.htm News Releases. (2008, january 3). Retrieved from www.ura.gov.sg: http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/2008/pr08-07.html Tan, M. (2011). More hotels to meet demand. Retrieved from www.stproperty.sg: http://www.stproperty.sg/articles-property/commercial/more-hotels-to-meet-demand/a/97866 URA. (2001). news release on orchard road. Retrieved from www.ura.gov.sg: http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/pr01-16a.html Urban Redvelopment Authority. (2012, january 12). About Conservation. Retrieved from www.ura.gov.sg: http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/conservation.htm