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The
Straits Times, 13 Mar 04
Cheers for Sentosa's Playground for the Rich
By Tee Hun Ching
A world-class resort on Sentosa is the best idea to catapult Singapore
into the top league of tourism destinations they have heard in years,
property and leisure industry players gushed yesterday. Many also
praise the decision to link it to the southern islands. It would give
the cluster the edge to rival the Caribbean and Dubai, said Mr Steven
Choo, property developer CapitaLand's senior vice-president of research
and direct investments.
But the possibility of a casino, long rejected outright by the Government
got the most nods of approval. One of them is from Mrs Jannie Tay,
managing director of The Hour Glass. She suggested that "a brand
name operator" such as Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, would draw
the rich from the region.
What's for sure in the plans of the residential and leisure enclave
revealed by Trade and Industry Minister George Yeo, are homes, hotels,
marinas, spas, convention centre, retail and F&B outlets. They
would spread over more than 500ha -- roughly the size of 10 Botanic
Gardens.
It's a forward-looking move, said Mr Choo, echoing the views of many.
"It's fresh, ups the ante and takes us to a different class.
Any one island just wouldn't have the scale."
International consultants would be engaged for the project, said Brigadier-General
(NS) Yeo, and Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas would be
used as a development guide.
Mr Kwek Leng Beng, executive chairman of Hong Leong Group, said the
timing was just right. "Announcing this when the economy is on
the mend will make the project more attractive to shrewd investors
than when the market is at its peak and prices are high." Many
leisure operators expressed interest in getting involved.
Mr Peter Sng, president of Spa Association of Singapore, said that
subject to water quality, the resort could be an ideal site for a
phalasso centre, a form of spa using freshwater.
Many noted, however, that the best selling point is the proximity
of the waterfront haven to the city. Mr Francis Phun, chairman for
the Association of Singapore Attractions, said this would give people
"the best of both worlds". But he felt the casino many not
be a big draw as "there are already a few casinos in neighbouring
countries such as Malaysia." But Mr Tay believes it will attract
the rich from Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. "Currently, they
fly all over the world, to casinos in Melbourne, Gold Coast and Las
Vegas. And this crowd will always shop as part of the trip, so restaurants
and shops will benefit." She also said that with a brand-name
operator, "we'll be the only country in Asean with that high-end
image."
It would bring the rich and famous, en route to countries like Australia,
she said, adding that Singaporeans and Asean visitors can do weekend
trips.
Ms Ong Choon Fah, executive director of DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, however,
cautioned that the development should be paced. "We have to see
if people have reached that level of lifestyle and are ready for such
offerings". But the "rustic element" of the southern
islands is an edge that can be tapped to differentiate the project
from other resorts of the world. "For instance, Buddhist tourism
can be developed on Kusu Island. The twinning of Sentosa and the southern
islands have opened up many more possibilities," she said.
Welcome to Atlantis
Ringed by powdery sand and crystal-clear azure waters, Atlantis was
voted Best Family Resort 2004 by Forbes magazine. The ocean-themed
destination resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas, features a 13.7ha
marine environment that includes the world's largest open-air marine
habitat. It is also home to the largest casino in the Caribbean and
draws more than 4,000 visitors every day, who fork over US$215 (S$300)
to US$2,450 a night for one of its 2,317 rooms. Celebrity guests include
actors Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford. The resort is owned by Kerzner
International Limited.
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