wild places | wild happenings | wild news
make a difference for our wild places

home | links | search the site
  all articles latest | past | articles by topics | search wildnews
wild news on wildsingapore
  Channel NewsAsia 6 Dec 06
Underwater World open to working with winner of IR bid
By Wong Mun Wai

Today Online 7 Dec 06
Old and new oceanariums can 'co-exist'
Ansley Ng

NEVER mind the cutting-edge oceanariums promised by the Sentosa integrated resort (IR) bidders at its doorstep--the 15-year-old Underwater World Singapore (UWS) at Sentosa is likely to stay.

Its general manager Kwek Meng Tiam said yesterday that both attractions can co-exist though there are some similarities.

"There are many cities in the world that have aquariums in one city, like Beijing and Tokyo. We can co-exist given the right environment," said Mr Kwek to Today.

In fact, UWS, owned by Haw Par Corp, has been in talks for two years now with the bidders of the IR for a partnership should one of them win. "We have been in touch with them. We are open to cooperation"

With the three remaining bidders--Kerzner CapitaLand, Genting and Eighth Wonder--proposing world-class oceanariums and a marine research centre, all eyes are on UWS as they brace for the battle for visitors.

Declining to elaborate on the talks, he said: "It's all based on who wins and the business feasibility. When there is competition, there are always opportunities for cooperation," he said.

The plan for UWS now is to "sharpen its competitive edge and stay relevant". To do that, the attraction yesterday launched three new features--a 60-metre-wide stingray pool, a display of seldom-seen coral reef creatures and fish reflexology, a kind of therapy that uses thousands of tiny fishes to eat away dead skin on one's feet.

Mr Kwek predicts the new attractions to boost the number of visitors by "five to 10" per cent from last year's 1.6 million. He hopes for "spillover effects" from more visitors to Sentosa even without a partnership with the IR winner.

UWS parent Haw Par operates another oceanarium in Pattaya, Thailand and is building a US$12 million ($18,400) one in Chengdu, China.

Channel NewsAsia 6 Dec 06
Underwater World open to working with winner of IR bid
By Wong Mun Wai

SINGAPORE: Sentosa's Underwater World says it is open to working with the winner of the integrated resort as it launches three new initiatives on Wednesday.

The latest attractions at Underwater World include a species of shrimp and eel found in tropical reefs of Southeast Asia as well as sea animals known for their stings. It hopes these attractions will help increase the number of visitors by 5 to 10 percent a year and differentiate itself from other competitors in the market. With 1.6 million visitors last year, increasing the number of visitors can lead to a significant rise in profits.

The new attractions are also a chance for the park to promote itself ahead of the multi-billion dollar integrated resort announcement.

Kwek Meng Tiam, General Manager of the Underwater World, says: "Competition is everywhere, within Singapore and out of Singapore. So what we do is, we will introduce a new display frequently to stay relevant and sharpen our competitive edge."

Mr Kwek also hopes for some beneficial spill-over effect with the establishment of the Sentosa IR and expresses that "there's always chance of co-operation".

Even so, the management says any partnership will be based on who the winner of the bid is. But for visitors it is all about having fun - like visiting the new spa where thousands of small fish are "activated" to clean their feet. - CNA/so
links
Related articles on Southern Islands Development Plans including the Sentosa IR
about the site | email ria
  News articles are reproduced for non-profit educational purposes.
 

website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com