Botanic Gardens gears up for likely surge in visitors

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/botanic-gardens-gears-likely-surge-visitors-20131209

Singapore's potential first Unesco World Heritage Site is mulling over a slew of measures to gear up for an expected surge in visitors.

To better protect the 154- year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens' plants and buildings, director Nigel Taylor and his team may beef up the security team, post officers at the gates to guide visitors, and create more dog-free zones.

"It is primarily a botanical gardens, not a recreation space. There are plants in our collection that are among a handful of individuals left on the planet, so we have to protect them," he added.

Other ideas such as a new visitor reception area at the gate near the Botanic Gardens MRT station and a mini rubber plantation could also spread visitors more evenly across the 74ha site, he said.

Dr Taylor told The Straits Times that he expects the attraction to get as many as six million visits a year in 2021, up from 4.4 million now.

PARK ETIQUETTE FOR VISITORS

TO PROTECT the Botanic Gardens' plants and buildings, certain activities commonly carried out in other green spaces are not allowed. Here are some that visitors should avoid:

• Swimming, fishing, boating, cycling, playing football or frisbee, roller-skating and in-line skating.
• All wheeled forms of transportation are disallowed except wheelchairs.
• Damaging or modifying the plants, turf, park furniture or structures.
• Attaching exercise equipment to the shelters and other structures.
• Having picnics on the paths. Use the lawns instead.
• Playing loud music.