The number of Singaporean visitors to Johor has seen a steady improvement since the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) was implemented on October 1, according to local business groups. While the crowd hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, there is a noticeable day-by-day increase in visitors.
Roland Lim, president of the Johor Baru Business and Hawker Association, noted that although the numbers have yet to fully return to normal, he is optimistic that the situation will improve soon.
“For now, it has not gone back to normal but there has been a gradual increase daily,” Lim said, adding that the rise in visitors gives hope for a near-normal situation in the future.
Meanwhile, Johor Tourist Guides Association chairman Jimmy Leong highlighted that while there has been an uptick in vehicles crossing the border, it doesn’t necessarily equate to a full recovery in the number of Singaporean visitors.
“There have been slight improvements but it is not back to normal,” said Leong. Despite the gradual rise, both Lim and Leong are hopeful that visitor numbers will continue to improve as the VEP process becomes more streamlined.
