xuanwei@mediacorp.com.sg
JOHOR BAHRU
Genting Group chairman and chief executive Lim Kok Thay revealed this yesterday in his first public comments on the stalled attraction.
He added that, “fingers crossed”, the striking red and blue rails in the Universal Studios Singapore theme park would start rumbling again by December.
Still, that the star attraction has remained shut barely a week after the theme park opened in March has not hurt RWS, according to Mr Lim.
His assessment of the resort’s performance six months into its operations:
“Things are exceeding our own expectations.
RWS is doing extremely well.”
So well, in fact, that he is “quietly confident that we may have to revise upwards (our target of 13 million visitors a year)”.
While he declined to divulge how many have visited the IR so far, Mr Lim said, based on feedback, many guests have made return visits.
The car for the duelling roller-coaster ride is now under “major redesign” because tests have shown that it would not perform up to desired standards for safety.
The closure was not down to any mishap that happened, he stressed.
Asked if he had tweaked his gameplan for RWS after Marina Bay Sands (MBS) opened, he said he did not see the two IRs as competitors because they each served different markets.
“We don’t conduct our business and look at what MBS does. We just do our own things and do as best as we can.”
But, Mr Lim might have another card up his sleeve in the form of a new 175,000-sq-ft upscale shopping centre in Johor’s Iskandar region. He is jointly developing the shopping centre with US real estate giant Simon Property Group.
Called Johor Premium Outlets, the shopping belt — a short drive from Senai International Airport — will have as many as 90 “high-quality designer” stores when it opens by the end of next year. Also within his sights: Hotels, a theme park and a water park in the vicinity.
Speaking to MediaCorp at the ground breaking ceremony of the development yesterday, Mr Lim said his hope was for his latest project to complement RWS’ operations.
The IR will serve as a “catchment” to bring Singaporeans and tourists to Johor Premium Outlets, and vice-versa, he said, adding that there will be a shuttle deluxe coach service.