It is just some two weeks to go before Resorts World Sentosa opens it doors, and retailers at neighbouring shopping mall VivoCity are expecting better business from spillover human traffic.
Some estimate that business may go up about 20 per cent.
About 6,000 visitors take the monorail from VivoCity to Sentosa everyday. Many hang around in the mall even after returning to the mainland.
One tourist said: “We just came over from Sentosa on the monorail. We will grab a bite and buy something back.”
Visitor numbers to Sentosa are expected to go up once the integrated resort opens, and many retailers are upbeat about the prospect of increased spillover traffic.
Michael Tay, store manager, Best Denki, said: “I am very positive, looking at the situation; definitely it will bring us more traffic, probably it will help us to increase about 20 per cent of the business.”
To handle the crowds, VivoCity set up an additional customer service counter last month and doubled its pool of sales and security staff. More information panels have also been added. Outside the mall, transport facilities are also being ramped up.
A new pedestrian boardwalk to Sentosa is being built and transport operator SMRT will announce new public bus services within the next two weeks. It currently runs shuttle services for staff and family of Resorts World Sentosa.
ComfortDelGro, which manages SBS Transit, said it is currently “exploring the possibility” of running direct shuttle services into Sentosa.
Source : Channel NewsAsia – 8 Jan 2010