Feb6, 2010 - ST Forum
I REFER to Monday's letter by Sentosa Leisure Group, 'Sentosa has in mind interests of all visitors'.
I am a regular visitor to Sentosa. Like other visitors who have complained about the increase in costs to enter Sentosa, I was appalled when I drove to Sentosa a week ago on a Sunday to find I had to pay not only $7 to enter Sentosa, but also $7 to park for the afternoon, a total of $14. Previously, I paid $4 to enter and park on a Sunday.
I understand there are times when it is cheaper to enter Sentosa, but these are not times when most people want to go.
Sentosa Leisure Group wrote that it is trying to 'encourage guests to switch their mode of travel from car to public transport'.
However, given the mentality of most Singapore drivers, it is extremely unlikely they will park at HarbourFront or VivoCity and then wait for public transport to go to Sentosa, and then on the island wait again for public transport to their destination. In reality, these visitors will choose not to go to Sentosa.
Furthermore, I understand dogs are not allowed on buses or trains to Sentosa, leaving no option for pet owners but to drive.
Given that the increase in charges to enter Sentosa is due to the opening of Resorts World Sentosa, it seems unfair that visitors to Sentosa must bear the brunt of the increased charges.
Visitors to Resorts World Sentosa need not pay any fees to enter Sentosa as the entrance to the Resorts World Sentosa carpark is before the Sentosa gantry.
A better approach by Sentosa Leisure Group would be to have waited for the integrated resort to fully open and assess traffic flow before implementing the new pricing structure and carpark charges.
The sad result of Sentosa Leisure Group's actions is that Sentosa is now too expensive to visit regularly for much of the driving public, and businesses there will suffer.
Lim Siew Hui (Ms)