Looking at Sentosa today, it's hard to imagine the island was once a fishing village known as Pulau Blakang Mati. It later became a British military fortress until 1967 and was handed back to the newly independent Singapore Government. In 1968, the Government decided to develop the island into a holiday resort for local visitors and tourists. The public was invited to suggest names for the island and "Sentosa" – meaning peace & tranquillity in Malay - was eventually chosen for the island resort.
Tasked with overseeing the development, management and promotion of the island, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) was incorporated on 1 September 1972 as a statutory board under the purview of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. It also oversees the maintenance of nine other offshore islands south of Singapore – St. John's Island, Sisters' Island, Pulau Hantu, Pulau Biola, Pulau Jong, Lazarus Island, Kusu Island, Pulau Seringat, Pulau Tekukor.
Today, Sentosa is Singapore's premier island resort getaway with multi-faceted appeal, teeming with events all year round. Just 15 minutes from the city, it is a unique blend of leisure and recreational facilities including family attractions, sea sports, golf as well as hotel accommodation and retreats. A canopy of secondary rainforest covers 70 per cent of the 500-hectare island and is home to monitor lizards, monkeys, peacocks, parrots as well as other native fauna and flora. Sentosa has a 3.2-kilometre stretch of white sand beach, and is the only location in Singapore to offer beachfront accommodation and over 670 hotel rooms with full facilities. Accessed by cable car, bus, taxi or car, the island is open for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Since the island's inception in 1972, S$420 million in private investments and another $500 million from Government funding have gone into developing the island.
Offering a variety of experiences for all ages, Sentosa is a must-visit destination for tourists and a popular recreational playground for local residents.
In preparation for the many upcoming exciting initiatives, SDC re-aligned its corporate structure and transferred its day-to-day operations of the island to Sentosa Leisure Management Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary. Another subsidiary, Sentosa Cove Pte Ltd oversees the development and management of Sentosa Cove, Singapore's first marina resort and residential project. Moving towards a more pro-business course, SDC and its subsidiaries are now known as the Sentosa Leisure Group. |