Pandemic pivots: Travel players sell seafood, durians and do F&B deliveries to stay alive

SINGAPORE - Let's Go Tour founder Robin Loh had a busy 2019 - so busy that he hardly had time to indulge in his hobby of fishing. His plastic motorboat, which he had purchased for $16,000 five years ago, lay in storage at the SAF yacht club.

Last month, he and a business partner founded Under Da Boat Seafood Market, sourcing from their personal network of seafood suppliers and kelong owners. They sell a small menu that includes fresh prawns, mussels and clams online, priced between $8 and $25 per kg. Industry watchers like Ms Shirley Tee, a senior manager at Nanyang Polytechnic's School of Business Management, warn that the coronavirus pandemic will likely result in a consolidation of travel players. Many, she says, will not survive the fallout.

With many Singaporeans missing bubble tea when stores were closed during the circuit breaker, Klook launched DIY bubble tea kits. With prices starting at $35 for a kit that makes 10 cups, it proved to be one of Klook's bestsellers here.It was Klook's first foray into live-streaming, where they paired up with local company Durian Edition to educate viewers on the different varietals available. Three boxes of mao shan wang , weighing 420g each, went for $109.

Another start-up, Travelhorse, also shifted away from its original service of luggage storage. It now does mainly F&B deliveries. "Back then, when we couldn't launch the original business, we were quite worried. But we could be agile and flexible as our project was new," says Mr Koh, 26. Yet, there are travel start-ups continuing to give back to the community even as they fight to stay afloat.

Meanwhile, money from the workshops was split three ways, between donations to migrant worker charities, paying the speakers and to cover expenses.

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