 
EBAA was formed in 2003 by a group of express bus operators and is registered with the Registry of Societies (ROS). Our registration number is ROS/0178/2003/TAP.
The association has in place of business registered at the following address:
5001 Beach Road
#03-36 Golden Mile Complex
Singapore 199588
The association also has in place a constitution with the office bearers appointed once every two years. Currently the association has 20 members comprising mainly the tour & travel related agencies and express bus operators. Of these, 10 are ordinary members with express bus operating license and 10 are associate members related to the industry.
The primary objective of the association is to promote goodwill, foster cooperation and understanding amongst its members. The secondary objectives of the association include the followings:
| a. |
To act as arbitrators or to assist in the settlement of disputes, problems and difficulties arising between members. |
| b. |
To make recommendation to the relevant Authority or bodies in relation to any measure that may be taken involving its members. |
| c. |
To offer assistance and advice to any interested bodies in connection with the express bus trade and tourism. |
| d. |
To bring together persons engaged or connected to the express bus trade, so that they may, by cooperation and mutual exchange of ideas and views, advance the interests of the members and the association. |
EBAA members are mainly express bus operators and of the 21 million visitors to Malaysia from January to December 2007, 10.5 millions or 50% are from Singapore (an increase of 8.7% over the same period for 2006) and of these 33% or close to 3.5 million visitors traveled to Malaysia by express buses and excursion coaches.
In addition, inbound passengers from Malaysia including workers and tourists on transit traveling by coaches to Singapore are estimated to be 1.2 millions. While we see tourism as an economic driver in our economy, the state of the tour bus industry is facing a transformation in improving its services and projecting itself as a key land transport provider for travelers to Malaysia and beyond.
EBAA has embarked on its vision to build a permanent intercity bus terminal. Our vision of the centralized terminal will be a world-class one, there will be various amenities provided within the terminal to service all passengers and tourist arrivals. These include shopping & entertainment elements within the terminal. We have consider building a mid range budget hotel integrated within the terminal to service passengers on transit. If the plan to develop the intercity bus terminal is successful, investors from across the region will be invited to invest and develop the infrastructure.
Over the years, the travel trade industry has been growing due mainly to the increase in tourism arrival by air, sea and land transport. Coaches or land travel too has become an essential way of transportation between travelers from Malaysia and Singapore. The integrated resorts when completed in 2009/10 will generate tremendous tourist influx to the Marina and Sentosa area when the two IRs are ready.
In this respect, EBAA is committed to assist Singapore Tourist Board in the marketing of tourism in the Asean mainland region and are confident that we will be able to bring in at least 900,000 visitors from across the border as well as other countries and to generate at least 40,000 of room nights to the Marina and Sentosa IR and 360,000 room nights to the rest of the hotel properties nearby annually.
Yearly, we see an annual growth of about 10% to 12% tourist arrival. Of these, international travelers arriving by air are also increasingly travel by land transport to West Malaysia and beyond. As such, it is most appropriate that international travelers traveling by express buses and coaches will have a proper and centralized terminal instead of the current arrangement, where too many outlets are located across the island. The present arrangement creates confusion and inconvenience to all travelers using the present scattered pick-up points.
Our vision of the centralized terminal will be a world-class one, there will be various amenities provided within the terminal to service all passengers and tourist arrivals, i.e. shopping & entertainment elements to be included a mid range budget hotel integrated within the terminal to service passengers on transit.
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