SINGAPORE'S CHINATOWN : THE SEARCH FOR AUTHENTICITY IN A TOURIST ATTRACTION

Abstract

This thesis explores the issues surrounding the development of Singapore's Chinatown, and sets it against the backdrop of the question of "authenticity", with particular attention to the discourse in the definitions of “authenticity’’, the ways in which it is being presented and where the authority to authenticate resides. Through examining and comparing the state's constructions of Chinatown with the lived experiences of the local community, I will show that state-initiated efforts to conserve the Chinatown landscape as a repository for Singapore's culture and history have been differently interpreted by the local community, and sometimes by tourists. In addition, I plan to show that the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is claiming the authority to represent Chinatown as an historic, heritage site for tourists and locals, but this authority is occasionally questioned by both targeted groups. The handling of Chinatown's development and the issue of "authenticity" can be read in a variety of ways depending on the perspective one takes, and hence will warrant a more in-depth and thorough analysis.