RWS: Free Entrance on Opening Day

The Straits Times reported Resorts World Sentosa (RWS),in a bid to keep the traffic flowing into Sentosa, has decided to absorb admission charges for those heading straight to the integrated resort.

The entrance fee waiver, which starts tomorrow, applies to those who drive, take a taxi or ride public buses into the resort.

They will have direct access to RWS’ basement carpark without having to pass through the Sentosa toll booths farther inland.

They will, however, still have to pay carpark charges, taxi fares and the public bus fare.

Taxi passengers will also not be exempt from the S$3 (RM7.20) RWS surcharge that cab companies, except ComfortDelGro — which operates Comfort and CityCab taxis — recently announced.

And for visitors taking the bus, fares will be between S$1.50 and S$3.50 depending on where they start their journey and which bus service they take.

Earlier this month, charges for Sentosa were revised to a per vehicle basis and now range between S$2 and S$7 for those travelling in cars and taxis.

RWS, which begins operations at four of its hotels tomorrow, also announced its parking charges for its 3,500 carpark spaces.

Weekday charges are S$6 for the first hour and S$2 an hour thereafter. On weekends, it is S$7 for the first hour and S$2 an hour thereafter. After 7pm, there is a S$4 entry charge to the carpark.

The resort will cap the maximum parking fee at S$20.

To encourage more people to visit during lunch hours, it is offering discounted parking rates of S$1 for the first hour of parking between noon and 2pm.

Sarah Lim, senior lecturer of retail management at Singapore Polytechnic, said the move is likely to position the integrated resort to start its operations with a “big bang”.

“This will garner it more positive publicity and increase the number of visitors it gets on the first day.

“That, in turn, may arouse the curiosity of those who may not have thought of going to the integrated resort to now go and take a look,” she said.

From tomorrow, visitors can dine at 10 dining outlets located at the four hotels.

Opening dates for Universal Studios Singapore and the casino have not been announced.