Asia's premier leisure destination achieves record 5.7 million visitors

Singapore, May 2007: Sentosa resort island at the southern tip of Singapore has the special distinction of being a one-stop visitor destination with a unique blend of leisure and recreational offerings including family attractions, beaches, golf courses, a world-class yachting marina, spa and resort accommodation. Just 15 minutes from Singapore's shopping district and 25 minutes from the international airport, Sentosa is a premier destination for local residents and overseas visitors alike.

Strategically, the 500-hectare island - with its myriad offerings and luxury Sentosa Cove residential community - forms the core of the Sentosa-HarbourFront precinct which also includes a cluster of islands called the Southern Islands, a scenic cableway system at Mount Faber and Singapore Cruise Centre. In the year 2002, Sentosa embarked on a long-term rejuvenation plan to provide a more memorable experience for its visitors. By 2010, Sentosa expects to generate more than S$3 billion in annual revenue and bring Singapore closer to achieving its Tourism 2015 vision of attracting 17 million tourists and generating S$30 billion in revenue.

Sentosa Island: The current S$2 billion redevelopment plan, with inputs from a panel of international and local experts, is based on creating different physical clusters on the island that focus on specific visitor needs. The plan also includes developing infrastructure to make the island more integrated and easily accessible for day trippers and over-night guests.

A key project which enhances accessibility is the Sentosa Express, a S$140-million light rail aboveground system that links Sentosa Island to Singapore's public Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network, bringing visitors directly into the island's major public zones in less than four minutes. A northern and southern arrival plaza with facilities such as underground car parks combined with efficient internal transport ensures comfortable and convenient connections between attractions and different parts of the island.

Sentosa island has been redefined into different distinct zones served by the three Sentosa Express stations and other on-island transport systems deployed to move people around:

• Waterfront Station: The northern part of the island will feature the emerging mega development called Resorts World at Sentosa* (see page 3). This station will open by 2010 to coincide with its completion.
• Imbiah Station: The island's lush green zone is dotted with heritage buildings creatively adapted and enhanced to the current Tourism Academy at Sentosa and brand new Amara Sanctuary Resort. The Siloso Beach Resort has sensitively interwoven its structures around the gentle slopes and green terrain. By mid-2008, the luxurious all-villa Capella Singapore resort will be completed. Also nestled in this zone is the Imbiah Lookout attractions cluster including the cable car, Sky Tower, Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom, Sentosa Luge, Images of Singapore, Merlion, Sentosa Herb & Spice Garden and Sentosa 4D Magix.
• Beach Station: Sentosa's popular beach precinct boasts three white sandy beaches with distinct characters: the lively Siloso Beach, the family-friendly Palawan Beach and the more tranquil Tanjong Beach. The beach arrival plaza houses the train station, bus and tram bays and a large public car park. An open-air amphitheatre, a variety of food, beverage and retail outlets, a nightly show called Songs of the Sea as well as accommodation and leisure amenities can be found along this 3.2km stretch.

Sentosa Cove: The S$4 billion, 117-hectare Sentosa Cove development has become the most coveted luxurious residential property in Asia and offers Singapore's only truly oceanfront residences. When this clever blend of luxury houses, apartments, marina hotel, full yachting marina amenities and quayside commercial units is fully developed by 2008/2009, some 10,000 residents will call this enclave home. The Oneo 15 Marina with moorings for over 250 yachts is already operational and some residents have already moved into their new homes.

With the local government allowing foreign ownership of its prestigious waterfront residential landed properties, Sentosa Cove is well on its way to becoming a truly global community. Sentosa Cove is the only development in Singaproe that non-Singaporeans can purchase. More than 80% per cent of homes at the Cove have already been sold.

Southern Islands: The offshore Southern Islands which Sentosa maintains comprise Kusu, Lazarus, Seringat, Sisters and St. John's. Lying just one kilometre off Sentosa, these islands have been gradually redeveloped for future residential, resort and leisure purposes and now encompass 334 hectares of flora and fauna. Its detailed development plans are still being finalised by several government agencies to complement the attractions and facilities on Sentosa.

HarbourFront Development: The HarbourFront development is an integral part of the Sentosa-HarbourFront offering. It comprises international cruise and ferry terminals, Singapore's only cableway system at Mount Faber, an entertainment hub called St James Power Station as well as Singapore's largest retail and lifestyle mall called VivoCity. It spans 24 hectares and lies along the waterfront directly across Sentosa island. The development is served by HarbourFront MRT station that links to Singapore's public train service and together with passengers using the Singapore Cruise Centre, attracts more than 30 million visitors annually.

*Resorts World at Sentosa:
Genting International is building a 49-hectare, S$5.2-billion development called Resorts World at Sentosa. Expected to open by 2010 and projected to add S$2.7 billion (about 0.8%) to Singapore's GDP, Resorts World at Sentosa will create about 10,000 direct jobs. Some of the key highlights here are:

• Universal Studios Singapore: The largest theme park in Asia, this Universal Studios will have 22 attractions within seven themed worlds as well as a DreamWorks Studio.
• Marine Life Park: An oceanarium spanning 8 hectares, the attraction will feature the largest single tank in the world with over 700,000 aquatic creatures, including whale sharks and dolphins.
• Water Park: A 1.3-hectare water park designed to integrate with the hilly landscape.
• Maritime Xperiential Museum: Set at the water's edge, this immersive attraction will focus on the maritime silk route story between East Asia and the Middle East.
• Entertainment: In addition to three public amphitheatres with a combined seating capacity of over 10,000, the Resorts World at Sentosa will also feature the Crane Ballet, a showcase of multi-media moving art using cleverly choreographed animatronic cranes and pyrotechnics.
• Le Vie: The resident music and dance show helmed by the same creative people behind Cirque du Soleil blockbusters such as 'KA' and 'O'.
• MICE: The meeting facilities will be able to host 12,000 delegates with a total seating of over 12,000. In addition, there will be 7 indoor and 10 outdoor incentive venues.
• Hotels: Six new hotels yielding over 1,800 rooms will be built, including Hard Rock Hotel, the luxurious Maxim's Residences and the world's first Hotel Michael by award-winning architect Michael Graves.
• Shopping and Dining: In addition to signature gourmet restaurants and themed retail stores, Resorts World at Sentosa will showcase some brands not yet available in Singapore, such as world famous toy store Hamley's of London.

Masterplan Projects