Genting Singapore has announced it will invest S$6.8 billion ($5bn) in the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) expansion, a huge increase on the original S$4.5bn ($2.8bn) investment.
In a statement with its financial results for the third quarter of 2023, Genting Singapore said the approved investment would “firmly anchor RWS as the most sought-after tourism destination in Asia, and propel the group’s strong future growth” (via Inside Asian Gaming).
The $5bn will be funded through internal resources, Genting Singapore said. The project, it added, has already received provisional government approval.
The updated plans include 700 new hotel rooms, as well as “experiential lifestyle content in a captivating blend of biophilic architecture that is designed by award winning firm Benoy”, the company said.
“Coupled with a striking new waterfront sculpture designed by Heatherwick Studio, it will transform Singapore’s skyline and form a monumental gateway to RWS and the new Greater Southern Waterfront precinct,” it added.
Resorts World Sentosa is an integrated resort on Singapore’s Sentosa island. The first phase of the expansion, dubbed RWS 2.0, started in the second quarter of 2022.
It includes the expansion of Universal Studios Singapore and the S.E.A. Aquarium, which will become the Singapore Oceanarium.
Universal Studios Singapore has already broken ground on its new Minion Land. As part of the expansion, the park will also offer a Super Nintendo World.
“Experiential lifestyle content” at RWS
As for the Singapore Oceanarium, this will be three times the size of the existing attraction. In addition, Resorts World Sentosa is renovating three of its hotels.
Earlier this year, Genting Singapore named Lee Shi Ruh as the new president of Resorts World Sentosa. Most recently, Lee served as the chief people officer for RWS.
“She has been a bedrock of our top management team in the last decade and is respected by our entire RWS community,” said RWS chairman and CEO Tan Hee Teck.
Images courtesy of Genting Singapore
