Both the IR projects will survive - with or without Singaporeans
visiting the casinos.
On opening day itself, CNA had reported that
the numerous Food & Beverage outlets at the Genting
Resorts saw long lines of customers - prepared to wait
for 45 minutes and more - when the food is about the standard fares
served by most hotels.
The added Universal Studio attraction at the Genting
Resorts will surely help Genting to draw a larger crowd then
the LV Sands at the Marina - and as happened on last Sunday, there
were hordes of ludicrous people prepared to pay S$10 for a
preview without the rides being operational.
As matters stand, the Woodlands and Tuas ICQ on the Singapore
side have seen traffic jams on the first day of Lunar New Year -
and this has not been the experience over the last ten years.
On the balance, both the IR will not depend on the
respective Casinos to recoup their investments, and have
targetted the MICE activities as the main event - at least on paper
as had been declared.
The question that should be asked is - will the entrance fee
of S$100 - paid by Singaporeans only - be kept by
the Singapore Government or by the Casinos ?
If kept by the Casinos, there could possibly be some
"arrangement" to placate pissed Singaporeans for the
bad gambling omen of losing S$100 before they even
play.
If this S$100 should go into the Government Treasury - most
gambling Singaporeans will prefer to spend the S$100 travelling to
casinos around the region, where they can have a short break away
from home.