RWS forecasts 17 million visitors

RWS forecasts 17 million visitors for 2013

(Photo: Resorts World Sentosa)

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has said it is expecting 17 million visitors for 2013 and plans to have more rooms to house guests.

It is looking at building more hotels away from the integrated resort to cater to cost-conscious travellers.

The first one, sited near the Jurong East train station, is targeted for completion by end-2014.

The plan is to offer four-star accommodation with some 500 rooms.

Visitors to RWS will soon see new attractions like a theme park ride based on the children's show "Sesame Street". The integrated resort is also introducing a new resident show at its Festive Grand theatre in 2013.

RWS has welcomed 45 million guests since its opening in 2010.

Genting Group, which owns the integrated resort, wants to lure potential visitors who may not wish to stay at its more expensive hotels.

Hence, the strategy is to site accommodation further away, not on prime land, to capture the market of travellers who prefer cheaper rooms.

While the novelty factor for Singaporeans is tapering off, RWS expects gaming revenue from foreigners to increase, though at a slower pace.

RWS said its strength lies in its ability to offer family-themed entertainment, apart from the casino. And Asia will remain its core market, with efforts to attract tourists geared towards the region.

Tan Hee Teck, chief executive of Resorts World Sentosa, said: "We have one great end-destination where someone can come here and spend three days, fully-occupied. I think there is no other destination, no other product that can compare with what we have."

RWS has 16 million visitors to date for 2012.

Its recently-opened Marine Life Park is expected to pull in an extra one million visitors to Sentosa the next year.

The park has attracted controversy for its import of dolphins.

Lim Kok Thay, chairman of Genting Group and Resorts World Sentosa, said: "These are not an endangered species, so it is really no different from, if you want to put it, the panda bears.

"So what is important here is that every care must be taken, and we are doing our best in that regards."

RWS has generated over 13,000 jobs. Seven in 10 staff are Singaporeans.

The integrated resort estimates it will re-coup its costs in three years or so.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~