Source : Straits Times – 14th Sep 2009
THE public observation deck perched atop the three hotel towers of the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) could well give the Singapore Flyer a run for its money by the middle of next year.
The 66.5m-long platform, to offer what the integrated resort has described as ’spectacular views of Singapore’s city skyline’, is 200m above the ground.
This means it will tower over the 165m-tall Flyer, the world’s tallest observation wheel.
The observation deck, to be rimmed by a 2m-high glass barrier all around, will allow visitors to get right up to the edge.
The only section of the 340m-long SkyPark open to the public, it will house a cafe or restaurant offering casual dining options.
The deck can take up to 900 people. It is not yet clear whether MBS will levy an admission charge to get up there, and how much this will be.
At a briefing last week, MBS general manager George Tanasijevich said discussions were still going on about how to manage the flow of people, and whether tickets to the attraction should be sold.
But one thing is certain, he said, and this was that the deck’s 360-degree view would be a crowd-puller among Singaporeans and tourists.
The year-old Flyer across the highway, widely expected to be a key attraction, has not fared too well. It has not managed to attract even half the number of projected visitors in a year, noted a recent shareholders’ report.
Talk is rife in the travel trade that the Flyer and MBS’ deck could go head-to-head for visitors, said the general manager of in-bound travel agent City DMC, Ms Wendy Leong.
But she, along with Mr Aaron Hung, who teaches world travel and tourism at the Singapore Management University, believes healthy competition will give visitors choices.
Mr Hung pointed out, however, that it will be down to a choice between two experiences – that of being in a pod-like observation module and an immersive viewing environment.
It is ‘technological marvel versus service ambience’, he said.
Ms Alicia Seah, spokesman for CTC Holidays, predicted that MBS may have the upper hand because visitors can come and go when they like, unlike the Flyer, which ‘traps’ visitors for the 30-minute duration of the ride.
She added that if the deck does charge an entry fee, it would probably be cheaper than the $29.50 minimum fare for an adult on the Flyer. This would add to the appeal of MBS’ observation deck.
Asked if the deck will draw away its visitors, a Singapore Flyer spokesman said there was no direct competition because both attractions offered ‘entirely different experiences’.
Ultimately, the experience offered will be the key to whether either attraction can become popular, said Ms Ng Lee Li, a lecturer at Tourism Academy @ Sentosa.
She gave the analogy of a beach holiday, in which a pristine beach is not the only factor driving one to head there.
The view, the environment and the totality of the experience matter as well.
‘While fantastic hardware – views included – can make a place attractive, it is often the heartware that makes a place alluring and memorable,’ she said.
Other top spots for a city view
~ Pan Pacific Singapore’s Hai Tien Lo Cantonese restaurant on level 37.
~ Swissotel Stamford’s Equinox Restaurant or New Asia Bar on level 71.
~ Sentosa’s Tiger Sky Tower.
~ National Library’s The Pod on level 16 (for events and functions only).
~ The China Club Singapore on level 52 of the Capital Tower (members’ only club).
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