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The
Business Times, 20 Apr 04
Decision on casino may be made in next 6
to 9 months
By Chuang Peck Ming
Reports of govt talks with casino operators not true: Balakrishnan
Singaporeans will be kept wondering for the next six to nine months
about whether a casino will be allowed here. Dr Balakrishnan: 'We
have no intention of becoming the Las Vegas of Asia.' 'The decision
will be made, hopefully, in the next two to three quarters but I cannot
be more definite about that,' Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of State
for Trade and Industry, told Parliament yesterday.
He squashed reports that the government has started formal talks or
consultations with casino operators. 'The press tends to indulge sometimes
in speculation,' he said. 'We are still having internal discussions
first and, of course, we would also be seeking the advice of Singaporeans
who have had patronised casinos.'
Dr Balakrishnan made clear that the casino proposal is aimed at tourists,
and that the government is very mindful of the likely social fallout
on Singaporeans. 'When we construct the rules and regulations around
any potential casino that we have in Singapore, our key objective
must be to minimise the potential negative social impact on the more
susceptible members of our population,' he said.
And even if a casino is intended to broaden Singapore's appeal to
a wider range of tourists, it will not be the centrepiece of the government's
tourism strategy, according to Dr Balakrishnan. 'We have no intention
of becoming the Las Vegas of Asia,' he said. 'We have no intention
of transforming Singapore into a Macau . . . This is not a panic reaction,
this is not an ill-conceived, hastily-conceived idea. This is just
one of many proposals which we are considering carefully.'
Still, the willingness to consider a casino is a major departure for
the government, which in the past would have quickly shot down even
the slightest hint of such an idea. The change in thinking was revealed
last month when George Yeo, the Minister for Trade and Industry, unveiled
plans for Sentosa Cove - a resort and residential development linking
Sentosa to the Southern Islands. It will feature a comprehensive range
of facilities - including possibly a casino.
'We are keeping an open mind on what to have in this development,
including the possibility of a casino,' according to Brigadier-General
Yeo. He said that if Singapore goes ahead with a casino - thus scrapping
a long-standing ban - the government will put in place controls to
limit access to Singaporeans and prevent organised crime.
Elaborating yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan said: 'The reason we are now
prepared to consider having a casino is because of the rapidly changing
tourism landscape in the region. Billions of dollars are being invested
in Macau to make it the Las Vegas of the East. Thailand is considering
new laws to allow casinos.'
According to him, fast-rising affluence in Asia means Singapore must
upgrade and broaden its appeal to tourists - or lose them. 'When the
International Advisory Council for Tourism met in Singapore last year,
one feedback was that Singapore is so middle-of-the-road that it is
in danger of being by-passed,' he said.
Dr Balakrishnan indicated that the government will make major investments
in the tourism industry in the next few years. 'While we do not want
to be a Las Vegas or a Macao, we need to consider all possibilities,'
he said. |
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