A friend told me that the people in the foreigner queue were not tourists but the foreign workers in Singapore. They went to the resort to enjoy the free drinks, cheap meals, showers and new facilities. Few Singaporeans went to the resort as they were deterred by the $100 entrance fee.
Something is wrong. The expensive facilities are now enjoyed by the foreign workers, and not for Singaporeans. This is an unintended consequence.
Of course, this is early days, and the discrepancies will be sorted out. But, it is a bad sign. Surely, we are capable of better planning in Singapore?
It is quite sad that I could be misled into the wrong impression. I hope that the newspapers would be more upfront in giving the correct impression.
Tan Kin Lian
25 comments:
Queque or no queue casinos are bad
for locals. It's a desperate move
to allow them to operate on Singapore soil.
Mr Tan,what u said is completely true. I took the bus to sentosa yesterday. I think I am the only local in the bus. I am surrounded by indian/bangla workers. I estimate at least 75% of the visitors are foreign workers.
Is it true that for Singaporean, the 'entrance fee' to the casino is $100 and this is not refundable?
Integrated Resort ? Looks like we are heading "Into Ruin" (IR)
Can a govt controlled printing house print a report that indicate the decision to build IR was wrong and having a low turn out by singaporean is the proof?
Continue to read too much SPH printed papers, you will be trap in this Wonderland...
It should be already apparent by now that our govt is especially kind to foreigners. Singapore is a haven for foreigners, so what else is new?
The Straits Times presented an optimistic report about the Resort World Sentosa. They gambling tables are full. The place is crowded.
Is this due to the "new" in Singapore? Many new attractions draw big crowds, due to promotion and advertising, but they do not last.
For the sake of our future growth, I hope that Resort World Sentosa will last beyond the "new" attraction.
Of the 2 IRs, this sentosa's has a head start than the other. Whether who goes into the casino is not that important to the operators as long as there are people visiting which translates into money flowing into the casino.
In a way, the opening of IR may gives more reasons to cheer in terms of employment for some locals, another item in the itinerary for local tours, more taxes for the government etc. Of course we can't neglect the cons which is why the set up of NCPG to balance out!
Heh, the set up of NCPG also creates employment for people which is also positive!
I read somewhere that casinos need 70-80% "mass" market and 20-30% high rollers to succeed.
For high rollers maybe we can expect more foreigners but who will make up for the mass market? Before they even start gambling, locals are already handicapped by the $100 entry fee.
Maybe in the future they may even scrap this fee (which will be a mockery to NCPG)to make the casino succeed. Remember the govt strategy is to grow at all costs!
Another way to beat the $100 entry be converted to chips for the casino or dining vouchers or rides for the theme park.
Think of the long queues at 4D, Toto outlets. Would this $100 entry fee discourages people from going to the casino to try their luck especially during this festive season?
My friend visited the casino in Sentosa. He paid $100 as a Singaporeans and was disappointed to find that the tables in the casino were full. Most of the people there were permanent residents and foreign workers.
There were few Singaporeans, judging from the short queue at the Singaporean entrance.
Another friend observed that the tour companies have not started to market the Sensosa integrated resort yet. When they start to market it later, this facility should be able to attract many tourists.
We have to watch and see. All the best.
In Singapore, anything new starts with an overwhelming response or a bang. What else is new? It is just a normal Singaporean reaction as the country lacks the space and outlets for people to enjoy and entertain themselves.
Six months or a year down the road, reality will set in and the entrance fee for locals will be waive. They imposed that just to silence the hue and cry of those who opposed the idea earlier.
Look at the front page of Straits Times today. Foreign workers were seen lying on the floor.
It is strange that the tour companies have not started to market the Sentosa integrated resort yet. I thought for project of such a scale, they would have done it way before the opening date. Sounds like someone has slept on the wheel, again!
Marketing the IR as a reason to visit Singapore seems like a long shot. I don't know why there is this strange belief that tourists will want to visit Singapore to see the casino. Australia has casinos galore in Sydney and Melbourne. Have you seen any Australian casino tour packages?
The most likely outcome is that economics will eventually force removal of most of the $100 levy. The casinos will then degenerate to become another place where toto/4d/horseracing punters go to lose money. You will get the occasional tourist but it is not going to generate the billions in GDP that it is supposed to bring in.
REX comments as follows,
i just came back from sentosa an hour ago.
I found the place very user un-friendly. I was shocked to see the car park in the hotel stated "NO GRACE PERIOD". I was not familiar with the place (no signboard at all of "CASINO" after turning right at the sentosa gateway bridge. I didnt know that casino was inside Festive Hotel Grand (how would i know!) so i went circulating around - got into the wrong car park - tried to save $7 by walking back up, but got lost and gave up (the staff also not sure gave me wrong directions) so i really lost $7 just for getting into the wrong car park.
When i finally found the place, i spent about 1 hour 10 minutes there and the charge was $9. The entry to Sentosa was also $7.
I had a very funny feeling when i went to the universal studios. I have been to many disneylands and universal studio in europe, japan and USA. Always when arriving, I felt refreshed because of nice temperature. Even if there is sun, the wind that comes is quite cool usually. But universal studio singapore, my god, very very hot. buay tahan. How on earth those live shows in the open air can get rid of the hot sun.
The old sentosa had lots of trees and nature, now the whole RWS is a concrete jungle with aircon blasing exhaust heat from behind. I felt really warm, it was a completely different feeling than my last trip to sentosa with the nice long Garden and numerous trees.
But then i thought, how can the trees survive if the same place occupied by tree yields $7 per entry, $7 per hour. Nature don't stand a chance.
REX
Hahaha, nothing is comfortable outdoors and unsheltered in the hot afternoon sun unless there are water related activities like sunbathing on beaches, swimming and jet skiing.
I used to wonder why there are no disneyland or universal studios in our neighbouring countries where it could be built and operate much cheaper. Now I know why.
As what REX has mentioned, the hot sun in S'pore is simply too much even for a local to enjoy the rides in the theme park. I doubt I will go there soon.
But if I have overseas friends, I will bring them there and ask them to enjoy themselves while I find a shady place to wait.
I wonder if it is possible to air-con the whole theme park so that people can enjoy the rides rain or shine!
Sigh! I know this is just a dream.
Hi Rex,
Interesting comment on your visit to RWS. Did you pop into the casino? Just 1 hr 10 min there, so I guess not very compelling then huh...
Yeah, the tropical heat will be killer to anyone used to air-con office or temperate regions. Pity those fellas who have to wear full-body costumes. Trees? They will die from all the air-con exhaust heat, and RWS will have to employ teams to use fire-hose to spray the plants. That's why use Egyptian theme -- desert no need so many plants.
It is clear that RWS (and the Marina Sands) are 100% counting on the casinos in order to survive. Doubtful if the theme parks and other peripheral business can contribute even 50% of needed ROI. What to do? Can only cross fingers.
Cambodia to launch casino
See http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_490891.html
I can well afford it, but I will not go. I will not stand being discriminated against in my own country. Anyway why are we letting foreign workers in? Is there no social cost in letting them gamble all their money away? Once they have spent all their money gambling, what will they do? Turn to crime so that they can feed their families at home?
hello anonymous,
no i didn't pop into the casino. i was with my wife and 2 kids, to pop in will empty my pockets besides i think the kids not allowed. i dont do casinos anyway, i just wanted to be there so as not to be so suaku, singaporean not even see the own casino in singapore, just gotta take a .jpg of myself there to avoid being called an old uncle or dinosaur. : )
To the other anonymous who said he will look for shady places. Yes you can find shady places but it will be below concrete roof not green trees. I really missed the nice Gardens at sentosa. It reminded me of Palace of Versailles in France. It was hot but you get to find shady trees too, the old Sentosa. Now, this RWS, I think they cramped too many buildings into the old space. Secondly, it is very important to know that whenever there is a cool air con place, the trade off is that a lot of hot air is circulating outside blowing somewhere. This is why overall the feeling i got, was not very pleasant, together with the recent heat spell, i really felt simmered and tired today just hanging out there a while.
REX
What should all Singaporeans do if the IRs should fail and the government wants to bail them out --- USING OUR MONEY and OUR CHILDREN'S MONEY!!!
Yes, the photo (in ST) showing people lying on the floor in front of the casino looked terrible and demeaning. Is this a low class casino?
We have a case of a foreigner using a forged passport to enter (?). I wonder when a case of a local using a foreigner's passport to enter will happen.
Hi REX,
Spore is not only hot but humid. It is the high humidity that makes people feel uncomfortable.
DONT WORRIED LA, FEW YEARS LATTER, GOV WILL ANNOUNCE PROFIT FROM 2 IRS N WILL GAVE US SINGAPOREANS MONE$$$$ , WAIT LA , LET FOREIGNER LOOK SEE LOOK SEE FIRST, TEACH THEM HOW TO CASINO. OK PAITENT. SINGAPOREAN.
Post a Comment