SOME people view them with contempt, others as eyesores cluttering the way, but tourists here seem unbothered by the sight of students studying at Changi Airport.

In fact, a number of travellers said they find these students a distinctive trademark at the airport.

Last month, a reader wrote to The Straits Times Forum page expressing annoyance at how every restaurant and cafe she went to 'was teeming with secondary and tertiary students studying for their examinations'. She said these students may not be good for the airport's image.

However, most of the 25 tourists, business travellers and visitors interviewed said they did not have an issue with them.

Technician Farid Idros, 25, said: There are times when there aren't seats in the food courts and students are still studying. But they usually leave when the place is packed, so I am fine with them.'

Canandian nutritionist M. Shunlim, who travels to Singapore frequently, said he found these students 'very uniquely Singapore'.