Singapore confident of big year
SINGAPORE – The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has released its forecasts for the tourism industry for 2010: 11.5 to 12.5 million in visitor arrivals and S$12.6 – S$13.3 billion in tourism receipts.
Aw Kah Peng, STB’s chief executive, said, “Despite last year being an exceptionally challenging one, the tourism industry weathered it credibly.
“With the global travel industry expected to recover this year and with Singapore offering an even more compelling suite of tourism experiences, including the two integrated resorts that open this year, we are confident that the sector will be able to register its best performance to date.”
Resorts World Sentosa opened ahead of schedule on January 20. Phase one included four signature hotels – Festive Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Crockfords Tower and Hotel Michael – offering a combined inventory of 1,350 rooms and 10 restaurants.
Other facilities include the resort’s Compass Ballroom, 26 function rooms, a 1,600-seat Festive Grand theatre, casino and Southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park
The $5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands, located along the waterfront area of Singapore, will feature three cascading hotel towers topped by a Sky Park, floating crystal pavilions located on water, a lotus-inspired museum, retail stores and a Las Vegas-style casino.
Marina Bay Sands is scheduled to have its preview opening on April 27 and its grand opening celebration on June 23.
Other attractions in progress in Singapore include Gardens by the Bay – three major waterfront gardens which will be the centerpiece of the integrated residential, business and entertainment facilities around Marina Bay, and a new International Cruise Terminal expected to be unveiled in 2011.
The terminal will double the city’s cruise-handling capacity and be able to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships, such as the Oasis class ships which are currently being built by Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Ian Jarrett
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