Six new precincts among plans to enhance Sentosa’s appeal

Kelly Ng Channel NewsAsia 15 Aug 14;

SINGAPORE: Sentosa is calling for ideas to boost its appeal to visitors and its plans include creating six precincts, which will have distinct offerings that cater for different groups, out of its existing clusters.

For example, the Palawan Beach precinct will be dedicated to family-centric activities, while the Siloso Beach stretch will feature “thrilling and adventurous recreational activities for the young and energetic”.

The Imbiah Lookout precinct will feature nature and heritage, and the Fort Siloso and Siloso Point area, which includes the preserved coastal fort and the Underwater World Singapore attractions, will offer visitors a “learning journey”.

The two other precincts singled out for enhancement are the North-South Link cluster, which connects Resorts World Sentosa and the beaches, and the Siloso Beach area.

The planning directives for each of the precincts were detailed in an Expression of Interest document (EOI) Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) posted last month on the government procurement website GeBIZ, which was first reported in Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao on Thursday (Aug 14).

SDC divisional director for property Benjamin Chia said the company is seeking consultancy services to “map its near- and mid-term development plans for the different precincts”.

“The outcome of the consultation process would be a suite of localised development projects within these precincts for SDC to evaluate and decide whether to embark on,” Mr Chia added.

Other plans include a “well-choreographed and comfortable” walking experience along the North-South link precinct. The consultant will also need to come up with proposals to enhance connectivity on the island, between the precincts as well as within them “to entice guests to walk and enjoy the island”.

The project will be carried out in three phases and a different firm will be appointed as the consultant for each phase. Subsequently, these firms may form strategic partnerships with SDC to support precinct-planning over the next five years.

Submissions will be evaluated based on a firm’s financial standing, resources and expertise, as well as track record. The EOI closes on Friday and shortlisted firms will be called to tender their proposals after evaluation.

Sentosa has surpassed the 20-million mark in terms of annual visitors, its latest figures showed.

Between April 1, 2012, and March 31 last year, a total of 20.5 million people visited the island. New attractions include a new night show called Wings of Time, which debuted at Siloso Beach in June.

Other offerings in the pipeline include Singapore’s first Madame Tussauds wax museum, which is slated to open later this year. Next year, visitors can look forward to KidZania, an indoor theme park for children, and the world’s first double swing bungy.

- CNA/cy

Six new precincts among plans to enhance Sentosa’s appeal
Kelly Ng Today Online 15 Aug 14;

SINGAPORE — Sentosa is calling for ideas to boost its appeal to visitors and its plans include creating six precincts, which will have distinct offerings that cater for different groups, out of its existing clusters.

For example, the Palawan Beach precinct will be dedicated to family-centric activities, while the Siloso Beach stretch will feature “thrilling and adventurous recreational activities for the young and energetic”.

The Imbiah Lookout precinct will feature nature and heritage, and the Fort Siloso and Siloso Point area, which includes the preserved coastal fort and the Underwater World Singapore attractions, will offer visitors a “learning journey”.

The two other precincts singled out for enhancement are the North-South Link cluster, which connects Resorts World Sentosa and the beaches, and the Tanjong Beach area.

The planning directives for each of the precincts were detailed in an Expression of Interest document (EOI) Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) posted last month on the government procurement website GeBIZ, which was first reported in Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao yesterday.

SDC divisional director for property Benjamin Chia said the company is seeking consultancy services to “map its near- and mid-term development plans for the different precincts”.

“The outcome of the consultation process would be a suite of localised development projects within these precincts for SDC to evaluate and decide on whether to embark on,” Mr Chia added.

Other plans include a “well-choreographed and comfortable” walking experience along the North-South link precinct. The consultant will also need to come up with proposals to enhance connectivity on the island, between the precincts as well as within them “to entice guests to walk and enjoy the island”.

The project will be carried out in three phases and a different firm will be appointed as the consultant for each phase. Subsequently, these firms may form strategic partnerships with SDC to support precinct-planning over the next five years.

Submissions will be evaluated based on a firm’s financial standing, resources and expertise, as well as track record. The EOI closes today and shortlisted firms will be called to tender their proposals after evaluation.

Sentosa has surpassed the 20-million mark in terms of annual visitors, its latest figures showed.

Between April 1, 2012, and March 31 last year, a total of 20.5 million people visited the island. New attractions include a new night show called Wings of Time, which debuted at Siloso Beach in June.

Other offerings in the pipeline include Singapore’s first Madame Tussauds wax museum, which is slated to open later this year. Next year, visitors can look forward to KidZania, an indoor theme park for children, and the world’s first double swing bungy.

Sentosa to get major facelift
Janice Tai The Straits Times AsiaOne 17 Aug 14;

SINGAPORE - Sentosa will be given a makeover in the next five years in a bid to draw more locals and tourists to the island.

Attractions and activities for visitors will be grouped according to themes and given designated areas within Sentosa.

For example, the Palawan Beach area will be for family activities with its upcoming Family Entertainment Centre, while Siloso Beach will offer lively beach bars and adrenaline-pumping rides for the adventurous and trendy. Imbiah Lookout will give nature and heritage lovers the greenery and serenity they seek.

Sentosa Development Corp (SDC), which manages the island, is calling for developers to indicate their interest in developing the island on the Government's online purchasing portal, GeBIZ, in an exercise that ends today.

According to SDC's project brief, six existing sites, which make up a third of the island's land area, have been earmarked for transformation - the North-South Link Precinct, Fort Siloso and Siloso Point, Siloso Beach, Palawan Beach, Tanjong Beach and Imbiah Lookout.

SDC also asked developers to submit ideas on how space on the 500ha island can be better used and how people can get from one area to another more easily.

"We would like to gain insights into innovative ways of enhancing infrastructure, landscape and lighting, as well as strategies for more efficient land use," said Mr Benjamin Chia, divisional director of property at SDC.

Experts say having themed zones, each with its own distinct identity, will be crucial as the island, which already has 33 attractions and nearly 200 food and retail outlets, is getting more crowded. "It will help distribute the crowd according to age group, and allow better land and infrastructure planning, such as having more child-friendly facilities in areas that are meant for families," said Dr Michael Chiam, senior lecturer in tourism at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

The five-year plan will be executed in three phases, starting with the North-South Link Precinct and ending with Imbiah Lookout.

Once work on the North-South Link Precinct is done, visitors should be able to walk easily from the North-South boulevard to the beaches and other zones.

The Fort Siloso and Siloso Point Precinct, which houses the country's coastal defence installation, will be a draw for history buffs. Beach lovers who want to see more of nature in a tranquil setting can head to Tanjong Beach.

The last time the island received a makeover was in 2006, when a new walkway and a children's splashing zone were added to Palawan Beach. That mini rejuvenation alone came with an $11 million bill.

SDC said it is unable to estimate the budget for this project as the developers have yet to be appointed.

Visitorship to the island has jumped since Resorts World Sentosa opened in 2010, rising from 6.1 million in 2008 to 20.5 million last year. Figures could go higher with the opening of long-awaited attractions such as wax museum Madame Tussauds this year and Singapore's first bungee jump facility next year.

"These changes are all exciting and good, but I hope the crowds will be better managed as there is always a bottleneck at the tram stations," said social service executive Cheryl Ong, 27, who goes to Sentosa for beach volleyball every week.