Sentosa Island visitorship surges after RWS casino & theme park open
By Wang Eng Eng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 February 2010 1851 hrs

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SINGAPORE : Guest arrivals to Sentosa Island surged when the Resorts World Sentosa casino and theme park opened on Sunday.

Some 75,000 people visited the island, a 20 per cent increase from the first day of the Lunar New Year in 2009.

Another 67,000 people visited the island on Monday.

Over at Resorts World Sentosa, the casino alone attracted some 35,000 people over two days.

There were long queues, either for entry to the casino or the restaurants at Resorts World Sentosa.

The fewer number of Singaporeans getting into the casino got in easily by paying the S$100 levy.

But the huge number of foreigners led to many waiting in line for up to two hours.

One visitor said: "I have waited here for two hours, it is too long."

Krist Boo, vice-president, Communications, Resorts World Sentosa, said: "...the queue is very overwhelming, we have a very good response to the casino opening...the foreigners' queue can vary; as and when the casino can take more people, we will let them in. It can take from a few minutes to an hour plus."

The situation was slightly better at the restaurants. Diners were able to get in after 30 to 40 minutes.

And since not all of the 13 restaurants were open, business was good for those that were.

One restaurant told MediaCorp it experienced a 100 per cent increase in business compared to last week.

The situation was a little different outside of Resorts World.

Although it was equally packed at Imbiah Point, cafes like Delifrance said their increase in business was less than expected.

Joanne Tee, assistant manager, Food Service, Delifrance, said: "For today...my business is about 20 per cent more. Actually I expected more, about 50 per cent more, because of the opening of the IR...I also expected more people to come during CNY (Chinese New Year)."

Although the crowds are thronging in, Sentosa Leisure Group said traffic was smooth.

It will continue to monitor the arrival and departure patterns of guests and respond to the situation accordingly. - CNA/ms