Unofficial NUS, NTU campus tours sold on booking platform, breaching universities’ rules

“Only authorised campus tours conducted under the University’s official programme are recognised by NTU,” the spokesperson said, adding that the school is “reviewing our options to address these unauthorised listings”.

An NUS spokesperson said the university “does not engage, authorise or endorse any third-party tour operators”, and advised visitors to refer to the NUS Visitor Centre website when planning a visit or engaging guides.

While NUS did not say if it would take action against the listings in response to CNA’s query sent on Jul 23, it posted a warning on its WeChat page on Aug 1.

The advisory was posted in line with the beginning of the summer travel season, said the NUS spokesperson.

The Mandarin-language post said unauthorised guided tours are strictly prohibited on campus and that it will take action against those who lead them, including referring them to law enforcement agencies.

“If you see campus tour advertisements on third-party online platforms and plan to book or pay for a tour, please ensure that the tour is authorised by the university,” it wrote. “Unauthorised campus tours will be stopped on the spot and reported to the relevant authorities.”

SIDE INCOME FOR STUDENTS

CNA joined one such tour at NTU earlier this month. Participants gathered at a meeting point on campus before setting off on foot.

The two-hour tour, which cost about S$154, took in landmarks including the UOB Innovation Hub, formerly known as the Hive, and the Nanyang University Arch.