• Three new attractions are slated to begin operations here in the months ahead 
• A tender will be lauched for a new attraction concept at the vacant site between Somerset skate park and Killiney Road later this year
• STB's CEO Keith Tan challenged the industry to find ways to create wellness and sustainability ideas for the tourism sector

SINGAPORE — Three new tourist attractions will be opening their doors to visitors here in the coming months, including a popular New York attraction that will be making its first international foray. 

Mr Keith Tan, chief executive officer of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said on Wednesday (April 7) that the Government will also be launching a tender for a new attraction concept at the vacant site between Somerset skate park and Killiney Road later this year.

One of the new tourist attractions slated to open soon is the New York-based The Museum of Ice Cream, which will be opening its first outlet outside the United States by the second half of this year. 

The museum, which is dedicated to all things related to the sweet treat, is known for its beautifully decorated rooms that will appeal to those looking to take Instagram-worthy photos.

Another attraction set to launch later this year is Slingshot. Mr Tan said that the thrill-ride concept, which will be located at Clarke Quay, will be Asia’s tallest.

And a third attraction is the SkyHelix Sentosa, which is expected to be ready in 2022. Mr Tan said that this will be Singapore’s first open-air panoramic attraction that will allow visitors scenic views of Sentosa and the Southern Waterfront.

“These projects are a welcomed breath of fresh air among all the negativity and bad news from the last year,” Mr Tan said during the Tourism Industry Conference, an annual platform for the tourism and travel trade industry.

“Since the pandemic hit, we’ve focused on how to weather this long winter. Now it is time for us to think about how we can prepare for the future, what we need to do today, so that we can thrive and succeed tomorrow.”

This year’s conference was held both virtually and with limited numbers on-site at the Suntec City Convention Centre because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

'URBAN WELLNESS DESTINATION'

Mr Tan also spoke about plans to refresh tourism attractions and precincts in Singapore.

One such plan involves an effort by STB, alongside the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Singapore Land Authority, to launch a tender for a new attraction concept at the vacant site between Somerset skate park and Killiney Road later this year. This is adjacent to the Orchard Road shopping belt.

He also urged industry players to consider how Singapore can become a leading urban wellness destination where “wellness offerings and experiences are fully integrated into the daily life of a modern city”.

He noted that this is “a serious challenge, as wellness is not a top-of-mind association with Singapore yet”. If Singapore wants to stay relevant for “quality tourists of the future”, it needs to adapt to meet their expectations and demands, he added.

He cited the examples of Shanghai and London as cities that have created urban wellness centres and clinics, and mooted the possibility of building more wellness-related business-to-business or business-to-customer events here.

Still, he noted that Singapore will not be starting from scratch in this area, since it already has heritage health brands such as Yue Hwa and Eu Yan Sang, which have a growing following in the region.

Another challenge that Mr Tan posed to the conference participants was whether Singapore could become one of the world’s top sustainable and innovative urban destinations.

“We know there is a clear link between well-being and nature,” he said. “Can we create more experiences in Singapore that support this link, building on our rich and, frankly, underappreciated green and blue resources here in Singapore?”

Mr Tan said that environmental sustainability is an important area the tourism sector must focus on because it is “one of the most important considerations for future travellers”.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Mr Tan said that Singapore was not seeking to compete with Bali in Indonesia,and Phuket or Koh Samui in Thailand — established holiday destinations for people looking to unwind.

It is therefore important for Singapore to find ways to differentiate itself as an urban wellness haven. “That is key to our strategy.”

When asked about the concept of the Somerset attraction, Mr Tan said that “the sky's the limit”, and that the board had already tested the ideas of some players. He did not elaborate.

“We were quite clear we want it to be sustainable, low-impact and something that is probably, given its location, youth-oriented… and a concept not yet found on Orchard Road.”

Mr Tan said that he hopes to work with the tourism industry to work out more details for the sector’s sustainability plan and present them in the next year or two.

NEW FUNDS, RESOURCES FOR INDUSTRY

Mr Tan also announced that STB will launch on Wednesday the Tourism Technology Transformation Cube, a resource to aid tourism businesses with their digital transformation.

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, who gave the opening address at the conference, said that the Government would be topping up the Tourism Development Fund by S$68.5 million.

The fund supports the creation and development of new tourism products or the major rejuvenation of existing tourism products to increase Singapore destination attractiveness to visitors. All businesses, companies or associations registered here with suitable and eligible projects may apply for the grant, which covers third-party costs such as professional services, equipment and software, production costs, among others.

Mr Chan added that other avenues of support for the sector, such as the Business Improvement Fund and the Training Industry Professional in Tourism grant, which supports tourism firms in employee upskilling and development, will be extended until the end of March next year.