Statute Details
- Title: Singapore Tourism (Waiver of Fees for Licences for Tourist Guides) Regulations 2009
- Act Code: STBA1963-S38-2009
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Singapore Tourism Board Act (Cap. 305B)
- Enacting Formula (Key Powers): Made under sections 8 and 26 of the Singapore Tourism Board Act, with the approval of the Minister for Trade and Industry
- Commencement / Effective Period: Fee waiver applies for licences granted during 15 February 2009 to 31 December 2010 (both dates inclusive)
- Citation: Singapore Tourism (Waiver of Fees for Licences for Tourist Guides) Regulations 2009
- Key Provision: Regulation 2 (Waiver of fees)
- Regulatory Context: Refers to regulation 5(2) of the Singapore Tourism (Licensing and Control of Tourist Guides) Regulations (Rg 1) and licences under regulation 4(2) of those Regulations
- Made Date: 12 February 2009
- Current Version Reference: Displayed as “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” (per provided extract)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Singapore Tourism (Waiver of Fees for Licences for Tourist Guides) Regulations 2009 is a targeted, time-limited regulatory measure. In plain language, it temporarily removes (waives) the requirement to pay certain licence fees for tourist guides during a defined period. The waiver is designed to reduce financial barriers for tourist guides seeking licences from the Singapore Tourism Board (“the Board”).
Although the Regulations are short, they operate within a broader licensing framework. They specifically interact with the Singapore Tourism (Licensing and Control of Tourist Guides) Regulations (the “Licensing and Control Regulations”), which set out how tourist guides are licensed and what fees are payable. The 2009 Waiver Regulations override the fee requirement for a particular category of licences and only for licences granted within the stated dates.
For practitioners, the key point is that this is not a general reform of tourist guide licensing. Instead, it is a narrow exception: it “notwithstanding” the general fee rule, it provides that no fee is payable for licences granted by the Board under the relevant licensing provision during the waiver window.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Regulation 1 (Citation) is a standard provision confirming the short title of the Regulations. It allows the Regulations to be cited in legal documents and correspondence.
Regulation 2 (Waiver of fees) is the operative clause. It begins with a “notwithstanding” formulation, which is legally significant: it indicates that Regulation 2 takes precedence over the conflicting provision it names. Specifically, Regulation 2 states that, despite regulation 5(2) of the Licensing and Control Regulations, no fee shall be payable for any licence granted by the Board under regulation 4(2) of those Regulations during the period between 15 February 2009 and 31 December 2010 (inclusive).
In practical terms, Regulation 2 creates a temporary fee-free licensing pathway for tourist guides. The waiver applies only when the Board grants a licence under the specified licensing provision (regulation 4(2) of the Licensing and Control Regulations). It does not necessarily mean that all fees connected to tourist guide regulation are waived—only the fee that would otherwise be payable under the named fee rule (regulation 5(2)) for the relevant licences.
Another important interpretive point is the trigger for the waiver: the waiver applies to licences granted during the waiver period. This matters for disputes about whether a guide is entitled to the waiver when an application was submitted before 15 February 2009 or when a licence is issued after 31 December 2010. The text is anchored to the date of licence grant by the Board, not the date of application, payment, or processing.
Finally, the Regulations include formal making and presentation context. The Regulations were made on 12 February 2009 by the Chairman of the Singapore Tourism Board, and they were to be presented to Parliament under section 26(4) of the Singapore Tourism Board Act. While these are procedural elements, they can be relevant in administrative law contexts (e.g., confirming validity and compliance with statutory requirements for subsidiary legislation).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are extremely concise and contain only two provisions:
- Regulation 1: Citation (short title).
- Regulation 2: Waiver of fees (the substantive rule).
There are no separate Parts, schedules, or detailed administrative procedures in this instrument. Instead, it relies on the existing licensing and fee framework in the Licensing and Control Regulations, using a “notwithstanding” clause to carve out a temporary exception.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
In scope are tourist guides who seek licences from the Singapore Tourism Board. The waiver is directed at the fee payable for licences granted by the Board under the specified licensing provision (regulation 4(2) of the Licensing and Control Regulations). Therefore, the practical beneficiaries are tourist guides applying for (and receiving) the relevant licences during the waiver period.
The Regulations also apply to the Singapore Tourism Board as the licensing authority. The Board must apply the waiver when granting licences within the stated dates. For legal practitioners advising the Board or applicants, the key is to confirm (i) that the licence type falls within the specified licensing provision and (ii) that the licence was granted within the waiver window.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Regulations are short, they have real commercial and compliance implications. Licence fees can be a material cost for individuals entering or continuing in the tourist guiding profession. By waiving fees for a defined period, the Regulations likely supported policy objectives such as encouraging licensing uptake, stabilising the supply of licensed tourist guides, or easing administrative burdens during a particular period.
From a legal standpoint, the “notwithstanding” drafting technique is crucial. It signals that the waiver is intended to override the general fee rule in the Licensing and Control Regulations. This reduces ambiguity and supports a clear entitlement: if the statutory conditions are met (licence granted under the specified provision during the specified dates), the fee is not payable.
For practitioners, this instrument is also a reminder to perform careful cross-referencing when advising on regulatory fees. The waiver is not self-contained; it depends on the definitions and fee mechanics in the Licensing and Control Regulations. In fee disputes, judicial review, or administrative appeals, the correct approach is to identify the relevant licensing provision, the relevant fee provision, and then apply the waiver’s temporal and substantive limits.
Finally, because the waiver is time-bound, it is important for counsel to determine whether the relevant licence was granted within the waiver period. For matters arising after 31 December 2010, the waiver would no longer apply, and the general fee rule in the Licensing and Control Regulations would likely govern. Conversely, for licences granted within the window, applicants may have a strong basis to resist fee charges inconsistent with Regulation 2.
Related Legislation
- Singapore Tourism (Licensing and Control of Tourist Guides) Regulations (Rg 1) — particularly:
- Regulation 4(2): licences granted by the Board (the licence category referenced by the waiver)
- Regulation 5(2): the general fee rule overridden by the waiver
- Singapore Tourism Board Act (Cap. 305B) — the authorising Act for making subsidiary legislation and for the presentation requirement referenced in the making clause
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Singapore Tourism (Waiver of Fees for Licences for Tourist Guides) Regulations 2009 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.