Singapore’s integrated resorts pulling the punters

Like moths to the flame the punters just can’t seem to stay away from Singapore’s shiny new integrated casino resorts.

Since opening early/mid 2010, Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands have been a huge success and are credited with boosting tourism numbers to Singapore last year.

Not a small boost either.

11 million people visited Singapore in 2010.  That’s a substantial 20% up on 2009.

And both casinos were only open just over half the year!  With 2011 marking their first full year of operation, the Singapore’s Tourism Board are expecting to see another big jump this year.

Back in 2005 when plans for the integrated resorts were revealed, the STB was hoping that they would help bump tourist numbers to 17 million annually by 2015.

This target looks is looking more and more conservative by the day.