Resorts World Sentosa bullish

Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa expects to attract as many if not more visitors as in 2010 as it adds more attractions.

Last year, the integrated resort operator - which opened Singapore's first casino and Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios a year ago, received 15 million visitors.

"We hit 15 million in the first year of operation ... we expect to hit the same number or more as new developments are coming up," Robin Goh, assistant director of communications, said.

This dispels some views that the resort may attract fewer people once the novelty of the product diminishes.

According to Goh, of the 15 million, 60 per cent were foreigners and 40 per cent locals. Each of them spent an average of S$85 (S$1 = RM203) per person.

Singapore itself received 11.6 million tourists in 2010 and has a target of achieving 17 million tourists by 2015.

Goh said that Resorts World Sentosa's next opening before June 2011 will be the Maritime Xperimental Museum, which takes one through the maritime Silk Route based on Admiral Zheng He journey in 4D.

Following that, in early 2012, Resorts World Sentosa will add Marine Life Park, which is touted as the largest oceanarium in terms of species and gallons of water.

The resort will go on to open its fifth and sixth hotel, Equarius and the Spa Villas, that will bring the total number of rooms on the 49ha resort to 1,800.

The existing four hotels enjoy close to 80 per cent occupancy and an average room rate of S$294 (RM703) per night.

Meanwhile, Goh said the group was pleasantly surprised by the response to its Resorts World Convention Centre (RWCC).

RWCC, the region's largest column free ballroom, which can accommodate 6,500 people, managed to hold over 1,500 events hosting over 415,000 guests last year.

This year, it has received forward bookings for over 500 events until year-end.

Resorts World Sentosa is wholly-owned by Genting Singapore plc. Genting Bhd holds some 51 per cent in Genting Singapore.

In the financial year ended December 31 2010, Genting Singapore made S$2.7 billion (RM8.45 billion) in revenue and an earnings before interest tax and amortisation of S$1.3 billion (RM3.1 billion) .

Genting Singapore's integrated resort is a S$6.6 billion (RM15.8 billion) development with the Universal Studios portion of the bill at US$1 billion (RM3.04 billion).

By Business Times