The winner of the bid to build Singapore's second casino resort on Sentosa goes to Genting International. The announcement ends a two year process which had seen Cabinet and public opinion split over Singapore's decision to overturn a 40-year ban on casino in order to win more tourism dollars.
Genting swept aside stiff competition from rivals Kerzner-Capitaland and Eight Wonder with its family-priented proposal which include a Universal Studios theme park, and the world's largest Oceanarium to cross the finishing line and win the coveted prize.
Two thrusts of Singapore's tourism ambitions are now set in motion. The Marina Bay project, awarded to Las Vegas Sands in May, promises to generate higher convention-visitor turnover, as the resort will target the Mice (meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions) visitors, while the Sentosa's party aims to pull in even more holidaymakers as Genting's strong family draws of Resort World at Sentosa are intended to attract families and leisure tourists who represent 69% of all visitors to Singapore.
Las Vegas Sands and Genting complement each other very well. Together, they will make Singapore into one giant integrated tourist destination and bring Singapore closer to its target of hitting tourist arrivals to 17 million by 2015.
As things now stand, the Genting project will ultimately make Sentosa the most extensive recreation hub in South -east Asia. Genting secured a 30-year exclusive deal with Universal Studios covering South-east Asia. Add to this the new VivoCity shopping mall just across from Sentosa, and Mount Faber, the precinct is set to become a major draw for tourist spending from the region and beyond. Then, marry all this to Marina Bay, we do seem to have a winning combination!
