Sentosa is a Hit

I remember a time when everyone thought (myself included) that Sentosa was lame and boring. Who would have thought that years later it is now our hottest attraction, mainly due to Universal Studios Singapore and Resorts World. It’s an absolute complete turnaround and I’m impressed. It’s one of the things our government does well. No matter how much I complain, I have to agree that they are super efficient.

photo by bookjunkie

Museums suffered a dip. So it’s no wonder that when I recently visited the Peranakan Museum it was so empty, which is a pity as not only were the exhibits great, I was also inspired by the architecture of the building itself. I am so glad I had a chance to go. I think the Heritage Board has done an incredible job.

Easy connectivity between attractions, reduced queuing times and ample retail and food-and-beverage outlets are other factors which have made Sentosa a hit, he added.

Conversely, paid attractions in the city centre – such as museums – suffered a dip of 4.4 per cent in visitor numbers, while those outside the city centre and excluding Sentosa showed a decline of 1.2 per cent.

However, free or non-gated sights, such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Marina Barrage and Clarke Quay, experienced a staggering 120 per cent increase in visitors.

The Singapore Flyer is one paid attraction that did not see a dip in its visitor numbers. The observation wheel enjoyed a 30 per cent increase in visitorship last year, compared to 2009.

Read the full report at AsiaOne.