Lau Pa Sat as a Singapore Historical Heritage

This paper explores the historical importance of Lau Pa Sat, a heritage building in Singapore, and its impact on tourism and the local economy. It discusses the social and economic impacts of the building, as well as negative impacts and the Gunn's Theory in context to the building.

Running head: LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

2LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
Introduction:
The importance of Historic buildings and monuments in tourism is immense and
many a times becomes the centre of attraction for the tourists. A tourist spot derives its
importance for several reasons and the historic importance of a place makes it all the more
important as a tourist attraction. The historic buildings are epitomes of the past and reflects
the tradition and culture that has passed over the ages and therefore historic monuments or
buildings have a great importance in tourism. The various historic monuments and buildings
around the world have been visited by people only to gain an insight into the past. The
tourism that is associated with the historic buildings or heritage buildings and monuments is
generally referred to as heritage tourism. Heritage Tourism includes visiting of places that
have cultural and heritage value and attractions and the number of heritage tourism is
increasing over the years owing to the accessibility and communication network of the
present world. Today the World knows about the Pyramids of Egypt and their heritage Value
and tourism in Egypt is promoted by the Pyramids. Thus it has to be understood that the
importance of the heritage value of any building or monument is immense in promoting
tourism that emphasises heritage. The heritage tourism is also being sponsored by the issues
of historical importance and students and young minds are keen to see and travel these places
to get a feeling of the past. Heritage tourism is becoming popular owing to their attachment
with the past (singapore-guide.com. 2019). As, John Towner and Geoffrey Wall
reports in their paper that power of history in promoting tourism is beyond imagination. This
paper will look into the historical monument of Lau Pa Sat which is located in the downtown
of the core of the Central Area of Singapore. This paper will evaluate the importance of the
building as a tourist centre and will examine the tourist value of the building and how it has
changed the city’s tourist spot with respect to the historical building.

3LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE

4LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
The Lau Pa Sat Building
The historic building of Lau Pa Sat is situated in Singapore and is located in the down
town of the Central area of Singapore. The building was built in the Year 1894 and is locally
known as the Telok Ayer Market. The building is maintained and looked after by the
National Heritage Board and retains its original wooden structure framed over the Telok Ayer
Bay and is built on piles. The market derives its name from the market and the word “Telok
Ayer” refers to water bay on which the building is built. In Chinese the term ‘Lau Pa Sat’
refers to Old Market and rightly refers to the historic building. The Lau Pa Sat was initially a
fish market and he market has been functional since then it has developed and evolved with
time. The market being situated in the South Bank of Singapore River, around Market
Streets’ north end gives the historic structure an attention that makes it all the more attractive
for tourists (singapore-guide.com. 2019).
Lau Pa Sat and its function:
The Lau Pa Sat is currently serving as a live market and a food centre. The whole
building consists of several stores ranging from tailoring shops to laundries, from footwear to
cafeteria and Bars. The market has an elevated alter which serves as an open stage where live
performances are held in the weekends and therefore exerts influence over the customers and
the tourists. The market also has a food court which has been designed to provide the tourists
with an experience that can attract them to the market. The original structure was designed by
James MacRitchie, who had designed the octagonal structure with Cast Iron and is unique in
its nature and architecture. The building has been serving as a food market, and is one of the
major hawker centre and provides one of the Singaporean Cuisine.

5LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
An overview of Lau Pa Sat and its surroundings
The tourist attraction of any place has an impact on its surroundings and the impact of
a historical structure in gaining importance to the tourist attraction is immense. A place of
tourist interest has different types of impact that is being created through the development of
the characters that make it a tourist attraction. Any tourist place is impacted by the
development with regards to its social and economic development. These impacts are some of
the major issues that are to be undertaken through the economic and social development. The
social impacts include the issues that impact the lives of the local people socially. This
includes the issues of social infrastructure, the local population, the changes in infrastructure,
the social impact also changes the social lives of the local people (singapore-guide.com.
2019). The most important aspect includes the issues of the local people, the development
of the local area of and the issues that develop with respect to the pollution that occur due to
the tourists in the area. The other aspect relates to the economic aspect of the tourist area. The
economic aspect of the tourist place involves the economic growth of the place. The
economic growth involves the growth of the economic condition of the people through the
development of the issue that are to be developed through the tourist trade in the place. The
Lau Pa Sat building has a heritage attached to it and acts as the major centre of attraction that
attracts trade and increases economic condition of the place through its attraction
(singapore-guide.com. 2019). The heritage building being a tourist attraction exerts
positive and negative influence in the locality.
Social impact of the Lau Pa Sat
The tourist attractions are the centre of business, in any tourist destinations and the
major elements that make up the tourist attractions evolve through the development of the
area or the tourist spot which adds value to the tourist interest. The development of the tourist
spots encourages tourist and these developments encourage the tourists to visit for a unique
experience. The socio cultural effects of the tourism involves the change of lifestyle,
occupational patterns and changes in the lives of the people are some of the most important

6LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
impacts that affect the socio economic lifestyle of the local people. The Lau Pa Sat impacts a
great influence on the lives of the Singaporean people with its antiquity and tourist attraction.
The local see it as one of their asset and maintains it as an important asset of the land. The
building sustains the livelihood of many, it has transformed the way of living, the value
system, the culture and the community in the locality.
Historical importance:
The historical importance of the building is immense and therefore serves as a major
Tourist attraction in Singapore. The Lau Pa Sat Building is one of the oldest architecture that
is existent in the heart of Singapore and is one of the finest examples of ethnic Singaporean
architecture. The building has been renovated a number of times over the years to maintain its
status. Along with the building has been recently renovated in 2014 which have taken
adequate care to boost the business environment within the building. The building has been
renovated with modifications that have made the place more convenient and attractive for the
tourist to visit. The building has generated greater employment after the renovation. The
renovation has also increased the hygiene and the aesthetics of the building which has also
increased the tourist flow within the community and has developed a more clearer and
hygienic environment in the
place. This has greatly affected the tourist footfalls in the building thereby increasing the
business derived out of tourists in the building. The renovation work has developed the
structure to sustain more stalls and the space in the food center has been enlarged to
accommodate around 2500 people. The food court has 54 stalls and has one of the largest
area to accommodate such a huge number of people. The infrastructure and the facilities have
been developed to ensure better amenities and arrangements to facilitate the tourists and the
customers visiting the Lau Pa Sat. The food centre offers both foreign and domestic
delicacies and the building has been designed during renovation accordingly to meet the
requirements of the stalls and the joints. The building is recently experiencing foreign tourists
and the number is increasing gradually. The increasing number of tourists and foreign tourist
have compelled the government to ensure that the building is maintained accordingly to meet
the growing demands of the tourists and the facilities. The facilities related to the building is
being developed and modified to meet the needs of the locality (singapore-guide.com.
2019). The facilities related to water supply, electricity and seating arrangements have been
made accordingly. The tourism that has evolved out of the Lau Pa Sat building has
accommodated various occupations and have developed the tourism sector intensively by

7LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
promoting tourism based job opportunities, and businesses. It has greatly developed the
locality and the presence of the building has changed the scenario of the city.
The negative impacts:
The negative impacts of tourist spots include the factors that degrade the environment
or create social and environmental issues that degrade the condition of the locality. The Lau
Pa Sat building in Singapore is experiencing huge tourist pressure in the current times and the
vast accumulation of various cultural communities, the city has become greatly cosmopolitan
and has transforming the local culture and traditions which are getting highly diluted. The
most important aspect that can be noticed as a negative impact of the Lau Pa Sat building is
the impact on the business of the small stall owners who have accommodated around the
building and during the renovation work the stalls were affected greatly and have created a
misbalance in the economy of the locality. Traffic congestion in and around the building is
also one of the issues that creates a negative impact on the environment of the soil. The most
important aspect of the issues that are to be generated through the development of the
building and the tourism industry around it creates a lot of pressure in the adjacent localities
and the communication lines. The traffic is highly congested making it difficult for the
commuters in the locality (singapore-guide.com. 2019).
Economic Impact
The economic impact of the building is immense and it allows for the development of
the locality. Apart from the development of the community as a whole it makes a great deal
of impact economically. The tourism industry is one of the major contributor in the economy
of the Singapore. The Gross Domestic Product is supposed to increase at a rate of 3.2% per
annum and would contribute 44% of the total GDP of Singapore by 2028. This reflects that
the tourism industry is going to grow enormously and the impact of the growth will be
reflected through the tourism sector in Singapore. The heritage building of Lau Pa Sat attracts

8LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
a great deal of tourists every year and this adds to the economy of the region greatly. The
associated effect of the building is to seen to impact the locality, the economy of the local
people and also of Singapore (singapore-guide.com. 2019). The Lau Pa Sat being a
market adds greatly to the business and to the economy apart from the tourist revenues. The
building attaches great importance as a tourist destination and as a heritage market and
therefore adds to the foreign exchange, business exchange and revenue generation from the
various services that are being promoted by the industry. The industry also looks into the
development of the local craftsmen allowing them to earn their livelihoods from the retail
outlets that have in the market. The market has facilitated the growth of the building and have
equally developed the growth of the locality. The increasing tourists are one of the examples
how the heritage building is moulding the economy of Singapore and the locality. The
heritage spot being tourist spot, the low level income group shopkeepers have seen a growth
in their business and the same interest is seen in their assets and subsidiary business that are
being developed in and around the Lau Pa Sat. The Lau Pa Sat apart from providing
economic growth in the region also exerts negative economic impact in the other business
around the building. The shops of the Lau Pa Sat experiences monopolistic business since
competition is high within them and most of the business is derived from the shops in the
market. The market has also led to generation of employment which leads to the growth of
the economy. The historic building of Lau Pa Sat therefore exerts social and economic
impact on the locality of Singapore (singapore-guide.com. 2019).
The Gunn’s Theory
The Gunn’s Theory describes tourism by dissecting it into three different elements
that describe the growth of Tourism. The elements are:
 Tourist or Human element.
 A central element or the nucleus

9LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
 An informative element
As the Gunn’s theory states, these three elements bring out the major aspects of any tourist
attraction or any tourist spot. The theory states that any place becomes a place of tourist
interest or attraction only when these elements are linked together. The attraction is created
by the linking of these elements and the success of a tourist destination lies in the amount of
linkages these elements have within them. This theory also states that the attraction of a
place is bonded by the elements and the way these elements shape themselves up and links
them, the place becomes a tourist hotspot. The missing of any of the element or the improper
balance between the linkages will fail to provide the spot with the must needed attraction.
For example a spot with great natural beauty but no accessibility will not create the attraction
therefore will fail to become a tourist destination. The Lau Pa Sat being a heritage building
and being accessible already has the elements in the linkages and therefore has turned into
becoming as one of the most visited sites in Singapore. The context of Lau Pa Sat will be
analysed in the subsequent sections to analyse the Gunn’s theory in context to the heritage
building.
The first element: A Tourist or a Human Element.
As Gunn has described in his theory that the importance of a tourist spot depends on
the element that has a natural value and the reason for the tourist or the people to travel to the
places in search of the economic activities and to earn livelihood. This element actually refers
to the connection that the traveler has with the place and whether the interest is being served
by the place. This is the first element which arises out of human want and desire to see more,
perceive more and too meet their demands and needs are referred to as the first element of the
Gunn’s theory. The relation between the people and the tourist spot depends on how well the
spot is successful in achieving or attracting tourists determine the rate of success of the sport
as a tourist destination. With respect to the Lau Pa Sat, the building caters to the livelihood of

10LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
a number of people who travel from other parts to Singapore in order to cater to the needs of
the market. The tourists being one of the major aspect of the tourism centred on the Lau Pa
Sat, the transport and allied services have been bettered through the development of the
services. This has also attracted a huge number a people who are associated with the various
occupations related to tourism and tourist activities. Tourists are thereby motivated to travel
to Lau Pa Sat which adds to the element of tourist or human element in Lau Pa Sat.
The Central Element or Nucleus
The second element also known as the central element or the element nucleus, is the
central character that attracts the tourists in a place. The central element is responsible for the
development of the tourist spot as a major tourist attraction and acts as the primary nucleus
around which the tourism in the place develops. The most important part of the issue includes
the necessary elements that creates the scope for the development of the tourism in the place.
For the case of Lau Pa Sat, the building is a heritage building with a historic importance and
acts as the centre of attraction based on which the tourism industry has flourished in the
region. The elements that acts a nucleus or a central character is the central element according
to the Gunn’s theory and Lau Pa Sat is the central element in Singapore. The building is a
gazetted building in Singapore and the government has maintained the building as status
building, which serves as the cultural and heritage centre of the place. This is the central
element in the place and has been credited with the honour of the national monument of
Singapore.
The Informative Element or the Marker element
The marker or the informative element in the Gunn’s Theory and it refers to the way
the information and promotion is done to promote that development of the tourist spot. The
tourist spot in the region is developed through this promotion and development of the issue.
The informative element is one of the major element that connects the two other elements and

11LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
promotes the tourist place with the necessary elements that makes it a tourist destination. The
communication and transport has been greatly developed with the support of the authorities
and the local communities which have allowed the growth of tourism based around Lau Pa
Sat.
Conclusion:
The development of any tourist place depends on the all the elements that have been
stated by Gunn in his theory. The heritage site of Lau Pa Sat is characterised according to the
theory and therefore serves as a major tourist attraction in Singapore. The building of Lau Pa
Sat serves as the central element of tourism in Singapore and most of the tourism based
industry and services have developed revolving around the building of Lau Pa Sat. The
motive of any heritage building as a central tourist spot serves many purpose and the
development of the heritage building as a tourist also depend on other elements as discussed
by Gunn. Thus we can understand that the growth of tourism based on the building of Lau Pa
Sat is dependent on various factors that promote the growth of such monuments or artefacts.
The importance of these building in promoting tourism therefore cannot be undermined and it
has to be understood that these elements needs to be promoted in order to preserve the
heritage and at the same time promote tourism out of it.

12LAU PA SAT AS A SINGAPORE HISTORICAL HERITAGE
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