The casino concept which had half the nation mightily opposed is looking like an inspired choice now. The leisure industry would not have failed to notice the catalytic effect the high-priced bidding for the two casion licences in Marina Bay and Sentosa is having on tourism planning. The competing packages for the Sentosa resort have such creative freshness one wished Singapore could accomodate more than only the winning bid. But the trickle down effect is showing. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is inviting international leisure groups to offer ideas that would make the Southern islands a shout away from Sentosa a new fixture on the international leisure circuit.
The bet on the overlooked islands, which have drawn mainly day trippers and devotional pilgrims, could yet draw a blank for a variety of reasons. But the STB would be foolish not to ride on the momentum while leisure operators and investors have their focus on Singapore. Until the casion contestants surprised with the size of their financial outlay - averaging $5 billion, and the quality of their offerings besides the gambling element, STB promotions had chiefly been formulaic, focused on reinforcing known strengths like the shopping anf the eating.
The casion stimulus could yet set Singapore off on a new cycle of building tourism fixed assets and tangible tourist products. Not counting the failed attempt to preserve the soul of Chinatown after its sadly plasticised rehabilitation, the last product that sold well had been Night Safari. In asset accumulation, the Esplanade arts centre which opened in 2002 barely makes the defintion of a tourist draw but it has surprisingly turned out to be one.
In the case of Southern islands, ideas chewed on have tended to be mainly of a high-yield, select market type of tourism. A favourite concept is of a secluded haunt for the rich, a cross between the Carribean's hedonism and the chic of the South of France, gambling inculded. The cluster of islets possibly could work as a marina for the international yatch-owning set. As they had with the casions, let the leisure industry's experts and moneybags work their surprises.
When this idea was broached, the expectation was that there would be swanky gambling hall, convention centres and Las Vegas styled dinner-and-show formulations. Few Singaporean could have made the connection with un-casino brands like Universal Studios, Vera Wang and the Bahamian Atlantis. If a gambling licence could draw such, might the Southern islands fancy its chances as a state of mind, like Taihiti?
