Ageing pilgrims, fewer stalls: Kusu Island pilgrimage faces generational decline
The annual Kusu Island pilgrimage in Singapore is experiencing a significant decline in attendance and commercial activity. Organizers and long-time vendors attribute the shift to an ageing population and changing generational interests.
Why it matters
Illustrates the broader trend of cultural and religious traditions struggling to maintain relevance in modern, urbanized societies.
About 15,500 people visited during the pilgrimage last year, roughly half the 30,000 recorded in 2019.
Devotees at the Tua Pek Kong Temple on Kusu Island, on Sep 27, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Ili Mansor)
Fabian Koh 06 Oct 2026 06:00AM (Updated: 06 Oct 2026 07:20AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a new cards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SINGAPORE: For Mr Hoo Tiang Lai, the Kusu pilgrimage used to mean a bustling month-long event, with hawker stalls and souvenir shops serving thousands of pilgrims who descend on the island to visit its two religious sites.
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