Sentosa:
Losing its rustic charm
Sentosa might have been historically named the 'Island of Death from Behind', or Pulau Belakang Mati in Malay, with links to murder and piracy in the past. So in 1972, the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board had the island renamed 'Sentosa' which means peace and tranquility in Malay.
Yet, Sentosa is anything but tranquil these days.
The Sentosa Leisure Group, formerly known as the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), embarked on a 10-year plan in 2002, to transform Sentosa into a world class tourist destination, with a S$8 bln master plan.
The main transport network for visitors to the island, the Monorail, was dismantled last year, to make way for the Sentosa Express, a S$140 mln light rail system which is expected to operational by the end of this year.
Investment from the private sector amounted to S$560 mln last year. Of which Amara Holdings will complete a S$60 mln 121-room boutique resort by next year, Robertson Quay finished construction of its mid-tier Siloso Beach Resort at the cost of S$50mln in July and the Pontiac Land Group will build a six star super luxury resort by 2008, on an investment of S$250 mln.
It is no wonder that Sentosa is not merely counting on investment, it is reinventing itself as well.
Sentosa set a record for the prices of bungalow land sold, when the Business Times published an article today, regarding the minimum reserve prices of the land parcels.
Master developer Sentosa Cove is allowing developers to bid for the residential development of two man-made islands, Pearl and Sandy, which were reclaimed along side the Sentosa shoreline and sold on 99 year leases.
The Sentosa Leisure Group is not stopping there. Already it is planning for the next phase of development for the isolated islands of Pulau Seringat, Lazarus and St John's which 'joined together to form one new 'critical mass' island destination'. It will be spending about S$1 bln to develop these islands and Kusu island in order 'to complement the attractions and facilities on Sentosa.'
Of course, we should not forget the bids for the integrated resorts in Sentosa. If the pictures in the press are anything to go by, for those of Genting and Universal Studios, and the Eight Wonder, is that the landscape of Sentosa would change drastically.
While Sunita Sue Leng from The Edge, might be embarrassed to bring visitors from out of town to visit Sentosa's current attractions, I am even more distressed of the fact that within the next half decade or so, the pockets of natural vegetation on Sentosa will be replaced by urban structures.
Sentosa will just be another sprawling island of urban redevelopment, but oh wait, it is merely mimicking its bigger sister, mainland Singapore.
Desiree Pakiam
ArchivesYet, Sentosa is anything but tranquil these days.
The Sentosa Leisure Group, formerly known as the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), embarked on a 10-year plan in 2002, to transform Sentosa into a world class tourist destination, with a S$8 bln master plan.
The main transport network for visitors to the island, the Monorail, was dismantled last year, to make way for the Sentosa Express, a S$140 mln light rail system which is expected to operational by the end of this year.
Investment from the private sector amounted to S$560 mln last year. Of which Amara Holdings will complete a S$60 mln 121-room boutique resort by next year, Robertson Quay finished construction of its mid-tier Siloso Beach Resort at the cost of S$50mln in July and the Pontiac Land Group will build a six star super luxury resort by 2008, on an investment of S$250 mln.
It is no wonder that Sentosa is not merely counting on investment, it is reinventing itself as well.
Sentosa set a record for the prices of bungalow land sold, when the Business Times published an article today, regarding the minimum reserve prices of the land parcels.
Master developer Sentosa Cove is allowing developers to bid for the residential development of two man-made islands, Pearl and Sandy, which were reclaimed along side the Sentosa shoreline and sold on 99 year leases.
The Sentosa Leisure Group is not stopping there. Already it is planning for the next phase of development for the isolated islands of Pulau Seringat, Lazarus and St John's which 'joined together to form one new 'critical mass' island destination'. It will be spending about S$1 bln to develop these islands and Kusu island in order 'to complement the attractions and facilities on Sentosa.'
Of course, we should not forget the bids for the integrated resorts in Sentosa. If the pictures in the press are anything to go by, for those of Genting and Universal Studios, and the Eight Wonder, is that the landscape of Sentosa would change drastically.
While Sunita Sue Leng from The Edge, might be embarrassed to bring visitors from out of town to visit Sentosa's current attractions, I am even more distressed of the fact that within the next half decade or so, the pockets of natural vegetation on Sentosa will be replaced by urban structures.
Sentosa will just be another sprawling island of urban redevelopment, but oh wait, it is merely mimicking its bigger sister, mainland Singapore.
Desiree Pakiam
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