Homegrown tour company Duck & Hippo acquired by international operator
Local tourism stalwart Duck & Hippo group has been bought over by Big Bus Tours, the world’s largest open-top sightseeing tour operator.
SINGAPORE — Sixteen years after it first made a splash with city tours on amphibious vehicles, local tourism stalwart Duck & Hippo group has been bought over by Big Bus Tours, the world's largest open-top sightseeing tour operator.
The value of the acquisition, completed on Monday (Sept 3), could not be revealed because of a non-disclosure agreement, said Duck & Hippo.
The company's seven existing sub-brands including Ducktours, Original Tour, Hippo Bus and SIA Hop On will continue and its 120 staff members will be retained.
There are no plans for price changes currently, the company added. According to its website, an hour-long Singapore Ducktours ride — on an amphibious craft — costs S$43 per adult, while a one-day pass for the Original Hop-On Hop-Off Tour (one line) costs S$23 per adult.
DUCK & HiPPO currently has an assortment of 50 vehicles and the company handled more than 650,000 passengers last year.
Its founder and chief executive James Heng, 57, will stay on as a consultant with Big Bus Tours during the transition period.
Mr Heng, who used to describe himself as the "chief duckie", subsequently plans to explore other opportunities in the Asia-Pacific tourism market.
With the acquisition, Singapore becomes Big Bus Tours' 21st city and joins others such as London, Paris, New York, Sydney and Hong Kong.
The companies said on Wednesday that customers can look forward to technology advancements including digital content, free wi-fi and real-time bus tracking. Customers will be able to locate their nearest stops through a mobile app.
Mr Heng called the acquisition an "important milestone" for the company.
"Coming under the umbrella of Big Bus Tours will open up many new opportunities for the Singapore team," he said. "We hope to continue our success in being innovative under the new… brand."
Ngee Ann Polytechnic's senior tourism lecturer Michael Chiam told TODAY that the acquisition would benefit both parties. For Duck & Hippo Tours, the move gives them "publicity... on a worldwide scale", as Big Bus Tours is a global brand.
For Big Bus Tours, the acquisition will help it to gain a presence in Singapore quickly, he said.
"From a tourism point of view, it is a good move, because (Big Bus Tours) is a brand many people are familiar with. It is a known brand name (that reflects) reliability and professionalism," said Dr Chiam.
IN THE BEGINNING, THE DUCK 'NEARLY DIED'
Being the first of its kind back in 2002, Mr Heng said his company "nearly died" in its first two years of business due to difficulties in securing approval from the authorities for the amphibious Duck vehicles and open-top Hippo buses.
The experience was highlighted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his 2004 National Day Rally as he called for the Government to support entrepreneurs.
Mr Lee had said: "The Duck took two years to get a licence — nearly died. Very difficult because they went to the LTA (Land Transport Authority). LTA says, "Your duck has a propeller, how can it be a car?" They went to the MPA (Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore). MPA says, "Your duck has wheels!" So, ding-dong, it took two years. Eventually, we sorted the problem. The Duck became a success."
The process took six months for the Hippo open-top buses and Mr Lee said: "I think we have to do better than that."
Duck & Hippo's other offerings over the years include the DHL Balloon attraction at Tan Quee Lan Street — touted as the "world's largest tethered helium balloon" when it launched in April 2006, and which lasted until October 2008.
It also operated cruises along the Singapore River for about four-and-a-half years until 2012.
When it announced in an advertisement that it would be stopping the Hippo River Cruises, the company cried foul over the Urban Redevelopment Authority's tender exercise after it did not win the bid to run water taxi services.
Among other things, it took issue with the emphasis on bid price instead of the bidder's track record and argued that the requirements — including the S$3 price cap on the standard service — would make operations financially unsustainable.
With the launch of Big Bus Tours in Singapore, the Original Tour buses will undergo livery changes to become Big Bus Singapore over the next few weeks, the companies said.
