To commemorate Sentosa’s transformation from its beginnings as a fishing village and military base to being one of the world’s leading leisure destinations today, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has kicked off celebrations for the resort island’s Golden Jubilee. Singapore residents and overseas guests can look forward to the launch of more than 50 commemorative leisure experiences, including initiatives to thank guests for their strong support over the decades following the establishment of SDC and Sentosa in September 1972.
With the theme of “Discovery Neverending”, Sentosa’s Golden Jubilee will celebrate the diverse facets of the island, including lesser-known and new leisure experiences, while showcasing the evolution of Sentosa to become today’s unique leisure destination with an exciting array of offerings.
“Sentosa is a much-loved icon of Singapore, a leading leisure getaway where Singaporeans of all ages have created memories while bonding, unwinding and reconnecting with their loved ones. As we celebrate our Golden Jubilee, we invite all Singaporeans and guests to join us in our journey of never-ending discoveries in Sentosa, and explore facets of the island that they may not have known before. We would also like to thank everyone for supporting us over the years, and will continue to give back to the community as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations. Sentosa will also continue to forge ahead with new and refreshed offerings, to further strengthen our unique value proposition for generations to come,” said Ms Thien Kwee Eng, Chief Executive, SDC.
First batch of celebratory offerings in 2022
SentoSights
As part of efforts to celebrate Sentosa’s multi-faceted leisure experiences, SDC has collaborated with travel partners to launch a new series of sustainability- and heritage-themed tours, SentoSights. Featuring more than 10 unique guided tours, SentoSights is an initiative under the Sustainable Sentosa strategic roadmap, and will showcase Sentosa’s authentic offerings while helping guests gain insights into the importance of sustainability and conservation programmes.
SentoSights will see guests immersing themselves in rich history and natural wonders while exploring a different side of Sentosa, with tours to gems such as Fort Siloso, Fort Serapong, Tanjong Rimau, and the Imbiah and Coastal Trails. Unique elements such as game-based exploration, magic demonstrations, and night-time forest walks will be incorporated into relevant tours, allowing guests to delve into heritage and sustainability in a fun and engaging way.
Extending the Sentosa getaway, the series of SentoSights tours will also feature the opportunity to explore the nearby Southern Islands, such as a sunset cruise with a sustainable fishing experience in the waters around St John’s and Lazarus islands.
Four tours have been launched, and more tours will progressively be rolled out from February. For more information on SentoSights, please refer to Annex A. Guests can also look forward to more sustainability-themed offerings in the coming year.
Silvers Deals
From 21 January, Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 60 and above will enjoy exclusive discounts and deals at participating business establishments in Sentosa on weekdays, in a collective effort by the Sentosa community to thank earlier generations for supporting the nascent growth of the resort island. Eligible seniors will just need to produce a valid photo identification or PAssion Silver Concession Card to enjoy the Silvers Deals.
The range of Silvers Deals include the opportunity to enjoy Mount Faber Leisure Group’s Sentosa Island Bus Tour and a flight onboard the Singapore Cable Car (Mount Faber and Sentosa Line) for just $5 (U.P. $60). Seniors can also enjoy one-for-one admission into Madame Tussauds Singapore, and a 50% discount at Sentosa 4D AdventureLand on its ‘four-in-one’ combo, among various other deals.
Stories of Discovery
SDC will be crowd-sourcing guests’ memories of Sentosa through the ‘Stories of Discovery’ social media contest. To be launched on 7 February, the 10 most heart-warming photo entries from guests and their cherished story of discovery in Sentosa will be included in a special celebration video. The winning entries will also stand to win a curated Sentosa experience package which includes a three-day-two-night staycation in Sentosa to be enjoyed with their loved ones.
Progressive roll-out of other activities and offerings
Sentosa Passport and Golden Jubilee Grand Draw
Continuing the festivities in March, Sentosa will invite guests to ‘visit’ the island via the Sentosa Passport digital campaign. With every $20 spent at participating businesses on Sentosa, guests will be able to obtain one stamp on their digital Sentosa Passport. Each stamp collected will entitle guests to one chance in the Golden Jubilee Grand Draw, which will see one lucky guest walking away with attractive prizes and experiences worth $50,000, among other prizes. Experiences worth $1000 will also be up for grabs every month.
Meanwhile, with the accumulated stamps, guests can redeem two prizes: once after collecting 10 stamps, and another at 20 stamps. Sentosa Islander members and guests transacting with a Mastercard® credit or debit card enjoy a special perk, with the redemption of their second prize at 18 stamps.
Revamped Sentosa Islander membership
To further thank fans of Sentosa, SDC will also be revamping the Sentosa Islander membership. Under the revamped membership to be rolled out in the coming months, all guests will be able to register for the free basic tier of the membership and earn rewards as they spend on Sentosa. Guests who hold the higher tiers of the membership will enjoy enhanced privileges, including curated experiences and exclusive invitations to Sentosa’s experiences. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can also look forward to special Golden Jubilee perks to be shared at a later date.
Flavours of Sentosa
The Sentosa experience is also set to expand beyond the island’s shores through SDC’s collaborations with homegrown brands Brewerkz and Udders to create Sentosa beer and ice creams. These offerings will be retailed in Sentosa and on the Singapore mainland. Featuring flavours inspired by the history of the island and tastes that embody the sunny vibrancy of Sentosa, the beer and ice creams will be rolled out in the coming months.
Golden Jubilee festivals
Continuing the festivities are two Golden Jubilee festivals, where guests can look forward to celebratory activities under the themes of Wellness and Food. More details on each of the festivals will be shared at a later stage.
Sentosa Golden Jubilee Charity Golf in support of President’s Challenge and Community Chest
As part of Sentosa’s collective effort to give back to the Singapore community, SDC, the Sentosa Golf Club and Community Chest will also be jointly organising the Sentosa Golden Jubilee Charity Golf, in support of the social service users under the President’s Challenge and Community Chest.
Commemorative Golden Jubilee E-book
To commemorate 50 years of Sentosa’s history, SDC will publish a special commemorative e-book in the second half of 2022. The e-book will feature a collection of stories from well-known personalities from various fields, as they reminisce the indelible mark Sentosa has had on their lives.
Forging ahead with new and upcoming developments
As Sentosa emerges from the pandemic, the island is welcoming a diverse range of new developments in its Golden Jubilee year. These include recently-launched attractions such as SkyHelix Sentosa, Singapore’s highest open-air panoramic ride; Southside, Sentosa’s new lifestyle destination; and a spectrum of wellness experiences at Oasia Resort Sentosa, amongst others.
As part of sustainability advocacy and education efforts under the Sustainable Sentosa strategic roadmap, SDC will also launch new low-carbon leisure experiences in the nearby Southern Islands, which will extend the Sentosa getaway and help guests better appreciate the islands’ rich flora and fauna. Upcoming offerings on the islands include bicycle rentals and sustainable accommodation, while a new public ferry jetty has opened at Sentosa Cove Village to connect Sentosa to the Southern Islands from Fridays to Sundays and on public holidays.
In the coming months, SDC will also be conducting a series of feasibility studies to look into the potential for new and sustainable tourism opportunities that may arise from the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the development of the Sentosa-Brani Master Plan.
Meanwhile, guests can look forward to more offerings coming on-stream, including:
• Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa – Singapore’s first villa-only hotel featuring 62 villas, each with its own private swimming pool and terrace area, designed by renowned design studio Yabu Pushelberg.
• Scentopia – Sentosa’s first perfume concept store with an innovative perfumery experience. Details of Sentosa’s Golden Jubilee celebrations will be shared progressively at https://www.sentosa.com.sg/jubilee
Photo credits: Sentosa Development Corporation
