No more casinos to be opened in Singapore

During the Pacific Asia Travel Association Travel Mart 2010 seminar, held at the Institute for Tourism Studies, Nazarechuk said the Lion City’s two integrated casino resorts “have added a new dimension” to the local economy. In fact, he added, “in-bound tourism has been setting new high records for the last nine consecutive months”.

However, the hospitality expert stressed that the territory’s Government still wants gaming to be “a secondary reason to come to Singapore”. For instance, Nazarechuk said, Resorts World Sentosa includes the Universal Studios theme park, “a family destination,” while Marina Bay Sands – developed by Las Vegas Sands – has a Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Singapore has “definitely” no intention of becoming a new Macau-style gaming city, he assured. So much so that Nazarechuk believes that the casino industry will not grow any further in the short-term. “Maybe 10 years from now, when the population grows up,” the American executive said.

The gaming liberalisation in Singapore “is a model to other destinations,” he stressed. The junket-ban and restrictions on the admission of locals are “an example being closely watched by other jurisdictions,” he said. “It’s still too early to tell for sure but it seems it [the rules] is doing what it was meant to.”

Macau should also learn from Singapore’s development, particularly its focus on planning, Nazarechuk said, “even for 20 years from now”. MSAR’s priority should be to improve the transport infrastructure so that “it’s easier to get here and move around,” he added. The UNLV scholar also called for more promotion of the local Macanese cuisine.