The Airport that is a Travel Destination of its Own | ADVANCED | practice English with Spotlight

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Singapore Changi Airport stands as a unique marvel where the nation has transformed a transit hub into a world-class travel destination in its own right. Located at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is a small city-state with only five million people, yet it has secured the title of the best airport in the world from Skytrax twelve times. This remarkable achievement stems from a deep-rooted national culture of cleanliness and order that began in 1968 under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign. He believed that maintaining a tidy environment would directly boost happiness, lower sickness rates, and foster economic growth, a philosophy that permeates every aspect of daily life and work in the country. The airport reflects this national pride through its pristine maintenance and innovative design, which leaves a lasting impression on travelers from around the globe. Unlike typical airports where passengers merely pass through, Changi offers an immersive experience with four distinct terminals, each featuring unique rooftop gardens ranging from cactus patches to sunflower fields and insect habitats. Inside, the Jewel complex houses the tallest indoor waterfall, known as the Rain Vortex, surrounded by a lush forest valley with thousands of plants. These spaces are complemented by art installations, a 24-hour movie theater, climbing walls, and dedicated play areas for children, effectively turning the airport into a holiday spot rather than just a place to catch a flight. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Changi Airport excels in efficiency and culinary diversity, offering more food options than many entire cities. The Jewel alone contains over 100 restaurants and bars across seven floors, serving cuisines from Japan, China, America, and numerous other nations, while dedicated zones like Singapore Food Street provide local flavors. Travelers also benefit from seamless check-in processes, quick security lines, and affordable public transportation that connects the city center to the airport in just thirty minutes for less than two dollars. With flights connecting over 150 locations via more than 6,400 weekly departures, the airport serves as a vital economic engine while providing a comfortable environment where visitors can dine, shop, and relax even during layovers. Ultimately, Singapore Changi Airport represents a successful fusion of national values with modern hospitality, proving that a small country can set global standards through dedication and creativity. For many citizens, visiting the airport is akin to a family outing where they enjoy rides, games, and scenic views without feeling rushed or inconvenienced. The airport's success demonstrates how a commitment to neatness, efficiency, and innovation can elevate a transit point into a beloved destination that showcases the country's prosperity and forward-thinking approach to travel.

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[music] >> Welcome to Spotlight Advanced. [music] I'm Colin Lawther. >> And I'm Megan Noel. >> [music] >> Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand [music] no matter where in the world they live. >> [music] >> The Republic of Singapore sits at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula in Asia. It is quite small compared to other countries. Singapore is both a city and a country. >> [music] >> It has only 5 million people. But Skytrax has named Singapore Changi Airport the best airport in the world 12 times. >> Today Spotlight [music] looks at how Singapore was able to create one of the greatest airports [music] in the world. How could a small country do this? How has it maintained its advantage? >> Changi Airport is not Singapore's only impressive feature. Singapore is one of the cleanest cities in the world. In 1968, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first Prime Minister, started the Keep Singapore Clean Campaign. This was the first time the government fined people for littering. >> [music] >> Its goal was not simply to make Singapore more pleasant. >> [music] >> Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew believed that a cleaner city would create [music] a better economy. He said, >> "These rules will keep happiness high. They will keep the sickness rate low, and these will create important social conditions for higher economic growth [music] in industry and travel. This will add to the public good. It will end in everyone's personal gain." >> Singapore's desire to keep [music] its environment clean directly affected people's daily attitudes and habits. The various government campaigns even targeted children. Teachers encouraged their students not [music] to litter. Children grew up wanting to keep things clean. >> Because of the government's efforts to create a nice place to live, Singaporeans take great pride in their home. This is one of the reasons they hold Changi Airport to such high standards. It is Singapore's statement to the world. It shows their country's success. Author Neil Humphreys writes, >> "Changi Airport matters because it is not merely an airport to many Singaporeans, but an important chapter in the Singapore story. They are linked. The growth and success of both are very similar. Changi Airport is Singapore. Efficient, clean, modern, [music] and forward-thinking." >> While all airports try to keep their areas neat and clean, >> [music] >> Changi Airport is perfectly maintained. This makes a lasting impression on travelers. Singapore's commitment to neatness and tidiness has directly affected how Singaporeans approach their work. Everything must be kept orderly and organized. [music] When Skytrax repeatedly named Changi Airport the best [music] airport in the world, it used a rating system by travelers for several categories. Travelers said, >> Changi Airport's check-in is simple and speeds up the process. Its arrivals are flawless. Its transfers are seamless. Its security and immigration through to departure are the quickest. >> For citizens of Singapore, it is very easy to get to the airport. Singaporean Keshia Naidu Rana Badalge says, >> It takes 30 minutes to get from the city center to the airport by train or bus. It is inexpensive, too. I live in the northeast of the country. Public transportation to the airport costs less than two Singapore dollars. There are no extra airport entrance fees. >> Changi Airport is not only clean and efficient, [music] but it offers travelers things not found in other airports. >> [music] >> The Jewel is an area inside the airport that holds the tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex. The water falls through a hole in the ceiling. The Shiseido Forest Valley surrounds the Rain Vortex. It is a garden with 60,000 shrubs and 900 trees. There are walking trails and places to sit throughout the garden. A light and sound show plays behind the waterfall at night. >> [music] >> The airport has four terminals. Terminals are buildings where passengers can buy [music] tickets, check their luggage, and get on and off aeroplanes. >> [music] >> Terminal 1 has an outdoor cactus garden on its rooftop. Terminal [music] 2 offers a sunflower patch on its rooftop and the enchanted garden inside. [music] Terminal 3 displays a pond for special fish and a garden for beautiful [music] insects. It is the only garden found like it in any airport. >> Changi Airport has various works of art >> [music] >> hung throughout the terminals. It even has a free movie theater that is open 24 hours a day. It [music] shows all the latest movie releases. Terminal 3 provides a wall for climbing. >> [music] >> The Jewel offers places for children to play. There is a rooftop [music] swimming pool that is part of the Aerotel Airport Transit [music] Hotel connected to Terminal 1. There are more than 300 stores for shopping in the airport including shops with the latest fashions. [music] >> Iskandar Zulkalnain takes his family to Changi Airport every few weeks. They visit the Jewel >> [music] >> and enjoy the airport's rides and games. He says, >> "I have yet to experience another airport that presents itself as a holiday, shopping, and eating spot." >> Most travelers in any airport need to eat before their flight or during their stopover. Changi Airport offers more food options than many cities. The Jewel alone contains more than 100 restaurants [music] and bars scattered across its seven floors. A person can find food representing Japan, China, America, [music] Great Britain, Latin America, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, and many other nations. >> [music] >> Terminal 3 has Singapore Food Street with food stands and restaurants. Terminal 2 includes an outdoor area called Hub and Spoke. Here, [music] visitors can sit in the sun and dine at a cafe. The airport also offers vegan and vegetarian options. There are 24-hour places to eat at each terminal. This convenience is one thing that makes Changi different from [music] other airports. >> Singapore Changi Airport offers flights by more than 100 airlines to 150 locations. The airport provides more than 6,400 weekly flights. Singapore Airlines has multiple trips between Asia and New York every day. >> Changi Airport is an exciting place to visit. [music] For many, an airport is just a place to pass through. But Singaporeans have turned this [music] one into a travel destination of its own. >> Which is the nicest airport you have visited? Have you ever been to Singapore's Changi Airport? Which feature of Changi Airport do you think is the most helpful? You can leave a comment on our website at www.spotlightenglish.com. You can also find us on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, [music] Instagram, and X. You can also get Spotlight episodes delivered directly to your Android or Apple device through our free official Spotlight English app. >> The writer of this episode was Peter Anderson. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from [music] the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes were adapted for this episode and voiced by Spotlight. No AI or artificial intelligence was used in this episode. Spotlight episodes are written, voiced, and [music] produced by real people for real people, no matter where in the world [music] they live. This episode is called The Airport that is a travel destination of its own. >> We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight episode. Goodbye. >> [music]