What S$9 billion will get you: Minions, Nintendo attractions at RWS, new tower at MBS and more

SINGAPORE — In a few years’ time, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) will be adding new attractions such as a Minion Park, Super Nintendo World as well as a new oceanarium.

The Universal Studios Singapore located within the resort will also be extended, and visitors will have two more choices of hotels, which will add up to 1,100 more rooms for RWS.

Over at the other integrated resort, Marina Bay Sands (MBS), a fourth tower will be built next to the three towers now and it will feature a 15,000-seater entertainment arena and a sky roof.

The new tower will have about 1,000 rooms and there will be more space to host exhibitions and conventions.

In a joint statement on Wednesday (April 3), four government ministries, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Finance, said that the integrated resorts will plough about S$9 billion into these new non-gaming facilities and attractions.

MBS and RWS are each expected to spend S$4.5 billion on their new developments. 

RELATED STORIES

• MBS, RWS allowed to expand casinos; exclusivity extended to end-2030
• Casinos could use technology that lets gamblers set budget, tells them when to stop

The two resort operators will also be allowed to expand their casino operations, with their exclusive rights to run a casino here extended until the end of 2030. This means that no other casinos will be built or operated here during this period.

However, their gambling revenue will be further taxed by the Government. In order to rein in problem gambling, casino levies on Singapore residents will be raised.

FULLY READY BY 2025

The new attractions of Super Nintendo World and Minion Park, spanning over 164,000 sqm, will be gradually rolled out at the Universal Studios Singapore every year from 2020 and completed around 2025.

Minion Park, inspired by the Despicable Me movie franchise, will take over the Madagascar zone, now designated for rides and shows tied to the animated movie of the same name. Both Minion Park and Super Nintendo World, based on Nintendo’s popular games and characters, will feature new rides and attractions.

The SEA Aquarium will also be expanded to take over the Maritime Experiential Museum, to create a new Singapore Oceanarium.

Apart from these, RWS’ waterfront promenade will be redeveloped to include a free public attraction featuring a nightly show and multi-purpose event zone that can be adapted for different festivals and events, as well as new dining options.

RWS will also introduce a driverless transport system across the Sentosa Boardwalk, which links to VivoCity mall in Harbourfront.

GROWING REGIONAL COMPETITION

The S$9 billion investments are aimed at enhancing the “vibrancy and tourism appeal of their offerings to remain competitive with other destinations in the region”, the Government said on Wednesday.

Competition has been intensifying across the region, with South Korea opening an integrated resort just last March on its holiday island of Jeju.

Taiwan is also expected to open its first casino this year and start vying with Singapore, the Philippines and even Macau for business in Asia.

Dr Michael Chiam, a senior tourism lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, said that while there was a “slow down” in casino activity in the last few years due to legislation in China discouraging Chinese nationals from gambling abroad, the new attractions will help to bring in gamers from other regions.
“Singapore must continue to grow beyond the Chinese market, to attract tourists from Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand,” he added.

Dr Chiam also said that these new attractions were important for both integrated resorts in Singapore to raise their game and stay competitive.

“Generally, after a few years, the attractions will become stagnant in terms of novelty. So if you want visitors, you have to work on your offerings so that people will have reason to come to Singapore,” he added.

Other analysts said that the competition is unlikely to be a threat and Singapore is likely to retain its spot as the “leader in integrated resorts”.

Mr Kevin Wee, a senior lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic's hospitality and tourism management programme, said: “While there will be competition, the good thing is that Singapore is still seen as the one who started it all in this region.

“With such a significant investment by the two operators, it will ensure the Singapore (resorts) maintain their leadership position. Others will try to follow up, but we will still be leading the way.”

Mr Wee added that with “so much money” invested in exchange for a modest increase in gaming area, it shows that the operators are looking at the growth of the integrated resorts in a “more holistic manner” and looking to gain revenue from other units instead of just the casinos.

Mr Christopher Khoo, managing director of international tourism consultancy MasterConsult Services, said that Singapore can only welcome competition, “because it makes Asia more appealing as a whole”.

“Tourism is such a fast growing industry and market that there is space for so much more competition,” he added.

BOOST FOR TOURISM, JOBS, BUSINESSES

Since opening in 2010, Marina Bay Sands has attracted more than 330 million visitors.

The property has brought in 700 new events for the meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (Mice) industry since its opening. Last year, it hosted 3,680 events at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Mr Sheldon Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands, which owns Marina Bay Sands, said that the new development would grow overall tourism to Singapore, “continue to create good jobs for Singaporeans” and “give a boost to local companies” which will benefit from the increased tourism and additional procurement spending.

Tourism experts are also confident that the new attractions will be able to pull their weight and pull in tourists.

Dr Chiam from Ngee Ann Polytechnic said that while Minion Park and Super Nintendo World are niche attractions, they “attract certain fans and there is a big following in the market who would go there just for the attractions”.

Mr Khoo from MasterConsult Services said that the new attractions played to each of the integrated resort’s strengths.

“For the new RWS attractions, it will strengthen their main selling point as being a family destination. Minion Park and Super Nintendo World are attractions that families are going to be looking out for.”

He added: “Tourist numbers were already high from 2018, from all the attention that we got from (the movie) Crazy Rich Asians and the Trump-Kim summit. This is just going to add more to Singapore’s attractions scene.”