SINGAPORE: The Marina Bay Sands integrated resort has pushed back its opening by at least two months due to difficulties in the building of one of its attractions.

It was originally slated to open by the end of the year, but will now only be ready in the beginning of 2010.

Developer Las Vegas Sands said the delay is due to the complicated construction of the SkyPark at the top of Marina Bay Sands' 55-storey hotel.

The SkyPark is a 340-metre rooftop strip that has three swimming pools and gardens for 3,900 people. Construction for the SkyPark's foundation will start in August.

The developer is also facing shortages of labour and materials such as sand and steel.

It said half the facilities, including the casino, half the retail and dining outlets and the first 20 storeys of each of the three hotel towers will open in early 2010. The rest will be operational two to three months later.

Marina Bay Sands is Singapore's first casino project to be awarded, in 2006. As well as gaming, the complex will include hotel, convention, luxury retail and performing arts facilities.

A second casino, Resorts World at Sentosa, is scheduled to open in phases also starting early 2010 and will feature the world's biggest oceanarium with 700,000 fish and a Universal Studios theme park.

Singapore in 2005 gave the approval for casinos to be developed in a bid to draw more visitors to the city-state, whose main attractions are shopping, dining, night life and animal parks.

- CNA/AFP/yb/ir