Business travellers will enjoy an even more vibrant destination. WRISNEY TAN reports.

Setting the scene for Singapore's economic growth for the next 15 to 20 years, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his recent National Day Rally speech, named innovation, enterprise and R&D exploitation as the drivers the country will employ to achieve continual growth and prosperity and attract new investments.

Mr Lee said: "We built up this economy based on efficiency, based on cost-effectiveness. We work well, we squeeze costs down, minimise waste and so, we attracted multinationals to come here. They provided the enterprise, we got the jobs.

"Now, we have to go beyond efficiency. You must still be efficient, but you must now develop and exploit knowledge, R&D, compete on the basis of knowledge and innovation and talent and not just on costs. And that way we can move the economy to the next level."

A Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council, made up of both private and public sector members, is being set up to advise the government on national research, innovation and enterprise strategies.
Mr Lee added: "There are risks in this approach. We are a small country. We can't bet on every number on the table, so we have to back certain positions.

"But we have to do this and if we succeed, we will gain a competitive edge which will put us ahead for 15 or 20 years to come; not forever, but long enough for us to make a living and to work out the next step forward and, therefore, to create jobs and prosperity for Singaporeans."

As the country struggles with regional and global competition, the service culture and the city's infrastructure also took centrestage in his address, of which the remaking of Singapore was the central theme.
To remake the economy and lure talent, a remake of the city has been planned, not only to attract visitors but also to create a good living environment.

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) acting assistant chief executive, business travel and MICE group, Mr Aloysius Arlando, said: "Internationally, everyone is stepping up destination development as governments increasingly recognise the important contribution of tourism to GDP. The STB saw the need for a clearer vision, greater focus and more concerted action by both the government and the business community to invest for long-term sustainable growth."

Orchard Road
The redevelopment of this shopping belt has already started with the rejuvenation of Orchard Road. More street buskers are present to liven up the scene. Malls now open onto the sidewalks, spilling the activity out into the streets. A site has also been identified to be used for events and a new observation tower is being planned.

Sentosa
Plans are under way to build two casino resorts, one at Marina Bay to cater to the corporate traveller and the other at Sentosa to cater to the leisure sector.

Sentosa itself is going through a gradual transformation but the impact is already being felt. Recently, Sentosa Leisure Group (SLG) signed a partnership with Forbes to hold the Forbes Global CEO Conference at the island for three consecutive years from 2006. SLG's CEO, Mr Darrell Metzger, told BTN Asia-Pacific: "We are focusing now on the tourist market rather than the locals because we have penetrated the latter as much as we could. The new focus includes MICE (meetings, incentive, conventions and exhibitions) as this is a segment we have not put a great deal of effort into because of the lack of facilities.

"We have always been just a venue for evening parties for MICE groups staying at Orchard Road. But with new hotels coming online, we will soon be able to accommodate more groups here."
Sentosa has 800 rooms now and 800 more are under construction. Mr Metzger estimates the new casino resort will bring in 2,000 more rooms.

Marina Bayfront
However the most impactful change will probably be to Marina Bay.
Mr Lee said: "We've got the old civic district which we've renovated. We've linked it to the new virgin areas, Marina South, Marina Centre, Marina East. We are going to build a new downtown in the new areas, link it up with the old city and extend the city seamlessly into the new downtown.

"We will build a Marina Barrage to dam up the mouth of the bay.
It will be ready in three years' time and it will convert the bay into a freshwater lake."

The plans to the waterfront include a big development on Marina South, where the business and financial centre is. Mr Lee said: "It's going to bring in more financial activities and it's going to be a major landmark on the bayfront."
And next to it would be the second casino resort.

Marina South, Marina East and Marina Centre will be linked up with bridges, walkways, promenades and the area will become "the signature image of Singapore" in five to 10 years.