From 20 to 3 stalls: Popular char kway teow hawker uncertain about future at Kusu Island

Singapore's Kusu Island used to bustle with activity whenever pilgrimage season came around . The number of visitors, however, has dwindled in recent years.

For Hoo Tiang Lai, who has been serving up char kway teow there for over four decades, returning to Kusu Island has become a tradition he looks forward to every year.

The 65-year-old, also known as Uncle Lai, is among the three remaining hawkers during this year's pilgrimage season — a stark contrast to the previous years.

"Last time there were 20 stalls, with many different owners. It was competitive and we had to tender for the stalls," he told CNA.

According to Singapore Land Authority, the number of visitors to Kusu Island during the pilgrimage season fell from 30,000 in 2019 to 15,500 last year.

This downward trend is something the hawker had observed for a while now.