SINGAPORE: Visitors to Sentosa island could soon hop onto coaches from Changi Airport, Orchard Road and Marina areas, to various drop—off points on the island.
The Sentosa Development Corporation has called for a tender for “experienced and established coach operators” to operate a shuttle service network from March 1, as new attractions and Resorts World Sentosa come on board next year.
Sentosa welcomed 6.1 million visitors last year, but this is expected to grow to around 10 million when Singapore’s second integrated resort opens in the first quarter of next year.
The proposed shuttle service is aimed at providing convenience for tourists and includes the development of tours and packages for overseas guests to experience the resort network, said Sentosa Leisure Group commercial director Susan Ang.
But tender documents show plans to run ad—hoc services from “key heartland hubs” to Sentosa, which will be activated on peak periods and events such as school holidays, public holidays and long weekends.
Operators will propose the bus frequencies, operating hours and ticket prices for the routes. Sentosa is targeting an annual ridership of 300,000 in the shuttle service’s first year of operation, with a 15 per cent annual increase planned for the second year.
Although mainly targeted at overseas visitors, regulars to the island welcomed more public transport options to get on the island. Visitors travelling via public transport to the island now have to alight at HabourFront and catch either the Sentosa Express or the Sentosa Bus.
Sales manager Leonard Ho, who remembered being caught in traffic jams entering the island during peak festive periods, said: “It will be a big turn—off if the island becomes a car park. I will gladly leave my car at home if more bus services can promise me a smoother ride in.”
Besides the proposed Shuttle Network, Sentosa has also embarked on a S$300—million Transport Management Plan to improve mobility and connectivity for guests in and around the island. Measures include boosting the monorail and bus fleets, building a new $70 million boardwalk by next year, and improving roads.
Slated to open by November next year, the 620—metre long Sentosa Boardwalk — designed to carry 8,000 guests per hour, in each direction — will allow visitors to walk onto the island.
On Tuesday, two new trains were added to the Sentosa Express fleet, raising its total carrying capacity to 4,000 guests per hour, in each direction.
Island entry has also been made easier — guests can now tap their way into Sentosa with their ez—link cards when they connect to the monorail at VivoCity, and skip the step of buying separate admission tickets.
