Bugis, in Singapore, was renowned
internationally from the 1950s to the 1980s for its nightly gathering of trans
women, a phenomenon which made it one of Singapore's top tourist destinations
during that period. Today, the original Bugis Street is now a cobblestoned,
relatively wide avenue sandwiched between the buildings of the Bugis Junction
shopping complex. On the other hand, the lane presently touted as "Bugis
Street" by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board is actually developed
from New Bugis Street, formerly Albert Street, and is billed as "the
largest street-shopping location in Singapore". An attempt by the
Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to bring back the former glamour was
unsuccessful. Although the street is not a well-known tourist destination, it
is frequented by many Singaporeans.
