The RTS Link Could Turn Singapore Into Johor Bahru’s Weekend Playground

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Much of the conversation around the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link has centred on one thing

Singaporeans will finally have a faster way to cross the Causeway for cheaper groceries, meals, and shopping.

However, a new study suggests we could have overlooked another major lifestyle shift.

Instead of simply making it easier for Singaporeans to spend in Johor, the RTS Link is also expected to bring more Malaysians into Singapore, not just to shop, but to catch concerts, attend festivals, experience nightlife, and spend entire weekends there.

The study, jointly commissioned by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), and Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS), found growing interest among Johor Bahru residents in travelling to Singapore for experiences rather than necessities.

Currently, around 24% of JB respondents said they travel to Singapore for events. Once the RTS Link opens, that figure is expected to climb to 34%.

Public transport users are also projected to increase their annual trips to Singapore by an average of 57%, and many respondents who currently drive across the Causeway said they intend to switch to the RTS instead.

Researchers estimate the rail link will generate an additional 3.3 million round trips from Johor Bahru to Singapore every year, compared to 11.2 million additional trips in the other direction, from Singapore to JB.

So yes, Singaporeans are still expected to flock to Johor for cheaper groceries, dining and everyday essentials. But the traffic isn't only one-way.

Perhaps the study's biggest surprise is where Malaysians plan to spend their money in Singapore

Researchers project that recreation spending by Johor visitors will double after the RTS Link launches, fuelled primarily by concerts, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences.

Many respondents also said they expect to stay overnight instead of making day trips, a sign the RTS could encourage longer visits and higher spending beyond shopping alone.

Recognising the opportunity, the study recommends that Singapore expand its appeal beyond traditional retail.

Among its proposals are:

• Hosting more regional concerts, festivals, and multi-day lifestyle events
• Growing attractions outside the city centre so visitor spending benefits more neighbourhoods
• Expanding Singapore's night-time economy through light festivals, immersive exhibitions, projection mapping, and drone shows
• Encouraging longer retail and F&B operating hours
• Creating cross-border promotions and loyalty programmes between Singapore and Johor businesses

The report also recommends positioning Singapore and Johor Bahru as "Twin Cities, One Destination", encouraging travellers to treat both cities as part of a single journey rather than choosing between them.

If the projections become reality, Singapore's biggest beneficiaries may not be supermarkets, but concert venues, attractions, hotels, and restaurants.