Resorts World Sentosa says it is " on track" for Phase 2 opening
By Hoe Yeen Nie & Jo-ann Huang | Posted: 27 May 2011 1203 hrs

	Photos 1  of 1 Press conference ahead of the Universal Studios Grand Opening. (Credit: RWS / Universal Studios)
	< />   Video Resorts World Sentosa says it is " on track" for Phase 2 opening

SINGAPORE: Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) said it is " on track" to open the second phase of its integrated resort, which includes a maritime museum, an aquarium and a marine life park.

On Friday, Chairman of the Genting Group and RWS, Lim Kok Thay, gave the assurance that the attractions will open progressively from the third quarter, starting with the maritime museum.

The marine life park will be ready by mid-2012.

The IR also announced it has completed the structure of its fifth hotel, Equarius, one of two new hotels under Phase 2.

Mr Lim was speaking ahead of the grand opening of Universal Studios Singapore on Saturday.

The two-day celebrations includes a Hollywood-style gala dinner on Friday, which will be attended by celebrities such as Paula Abdul, Jet Li and Maggie Cheung.

Mr Lim said he is open to more land acquisition opportunities for its expansion.

Mr Lim said: " More land is always better. But then you're talking about Singapore, where land like in Hong Kong, is at a premium. A theme park like this is always land-hungry. So obviously the more rides, the larger the park, you'll need more land.

" So perhaps in that sense, if we feel it will add more to tourism, definitely we will try to talk to the government. But as far as the rest of the resort is concerned, we've yet to complete it, and that's where our focus is."

He added that things are going as planned.

" Again, let me say we're right on top of it at the moment, but sometimes we just cannot avoid unexpected incidents."

RWS said it is expecting 16 million visitors this year, up from 15 million in 2010. It will target 75 per cent of tourists from overseas, with 90 per cent of them from Southeast Asia, India and China.

Universal Studios Singapore is also projecting four million visitors this year, double the number in the first nine months of its soft opening in March 2010.

The theme park may be one of the smallest in Asia, but Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts, said size does not matter.

He said: " Size is really irrelevant. It is all about the quality of the experience, the exciting nature of the rides and shows and attractions."

The theme park boasts 21 attractions, including the new Transformers ride slated to open later this year.

A spokesman on Friday revealed that three more attractions are in the pipeline, which will be ready by 2013.

They include two rides which will be unique to Singapore.

And to meet higher demand during the June holidays, the park will close later, at 9pm instead of 7pm. It will open as usual at 10am.

• 10 October 2006 - Genting International and Star Cruises submitted its proposal, suitably named Resorts World at Sentosa to the Singapore government.
• 16 October 2006 - Genting International and Star Cruises unveiled its proposal " Resorts World at Sentosa" .
• 8 December 2006 - Genting International and Star Cruises won the bid for the Sentosa IR.
• 16 April 2007 - Resorts World at Sentosa broke ground on 49-hectare site.
• 7 November 2007 - Resorts World at Sentosa announced that it will be adding six new attractions to its resort.
• October 2008 - Resorts World at Sentosa announced new Transformers attraction for Universal Studios Singapore.
• September 2009 - Universal Studios Singapore unveiled Far Far Away and Madagascar.
• October 2009 - Universal Studios Singapore unveiled attractions, dining options and merchandise outlets at Universal Studios Singapore
• 20 January 2010 - Soft Opening of Resorts World Sentosa
• 31 January 2010 - Opening of FestiveWalk
• Early February 2010 - Opening of Waterfront Station of Sentosa Express.
• February 2010 - Sneak Peak week for Universal Studios Singapore.
• 14 February 2010 - Opening of Resorts World Sentosa Casino.
• Late February 2010 - Opening of Link Bridge from Resorts World Sentosa to Imbiah Lookout.
• 18 March 2010 - Soft opening of Universal Studios Singapore with Pantages Hollywood Theater, Lights Camera Action, Battlestar Galactica, Accelerator, Revenge of the Mummy, Treasure Hunters, Canopy Flyer, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, Waterworld, Amber Rock Climb, Dino-Soarin', Shrek 4D Adventure, Donkey Live, Enchanted Airways, Magic Potion Spin and King Julien’s Beach Party-Go-Round.
• July 2010 - New Lake Hollywood Spectacular show on Friday and Saturday nights at Universal Studios Singapore.
• October 2010 - Opening of Candylicious, one of Asia's largest candy store.
• Late October 2010 - Opening of Waterfront Area.
• 25 December 2010 - Opening of Crane Dance.
• Spring 2011 - First year anniversary.
• 21 February 2011 - The re-opening of Battlestar Galactica after a technical glitch caused it to be closed just one week after opening.^[7][8]
• 16 May 2011 - The scheduled opening of Madagascar: A Crate Adventure in Universal Studios Singapore.^[9][10][11]
• 28 May 2011 - Universal Studios Singapore will celebrate its Grand Opening on Saturday, 28 May 2011
• Summer 2011 - Opening of Maritime Xperiential Museum.
• Autumn 2011 - The scheduled opening of Transformers: The Ride at Universal Studios Singapore.^[12]
• 2012 - Opening of Equarius Hotel, Spa Villas and Marine Life Park.
• Before End 2012 - Opening of Stage 28 and another 4 new attractions at Universal Studios Singapore

uncleti88      ( Date: 24-May-2011 15:13) Posted:   Going down, stay out of long trade for now