STB ‘remains confident’ in Jurong Lake District tourism potential despite lack of proposals
WHILE no submissions were received last year for a new tourism development at Jurong Lake District, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) “remains confident in the tourism potential of the site”, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling in Parliament on Wednesday (Jul 5).
She was responding to Member of Parliament Ang Wei Neng, who asked for an update on the development.
In March 2022, STB launched a request for proposals (RFP) for an integrated tourism development on a 6.8 hectare (ha) site next to Jurong Lake. This closed in October 2022 with no submissions received.
“The war in Ukraine, coupled with the overall slowdown in (the) global economy, created an uncertain economic environment during that period, especially for the tourism sector,” said Low.
But STB is still confident in the tourism potential of the site, as it is adjacent to the new Science Centre and Jurong Lake Gardens, she added. “We are monitoring market sentiments and exploring other possibilities to harness this potential.”
Ang, who is MP for West Coast GRC, noted that nearby residents were looking forward to the tourism development not just for entertainment but also for job opportunities.
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He asked about the implications that the cancelled high-speed rail link with Malaysia, and the recent release of a separate 6.5 ha white site in Jurong Lake District for tender, would have on the development of the site.
Low replied that upcoming transport links with the Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line will “enhance the attractiveness of Jurong Lake District as a major employment centre”.
“Over the next 10 to 15 years, the plan is to develop Jurong Lake District into the largest mixed-use business district outside of the city centre,” she noted. Residents in the area will “have access to very attractive job opportunities within close proximity”.
As for the recent tender, Low said: “The tourism development and the master development sale site actually aim to meet different but very complementary planning objectives for Jurong Lake District.”
While the master development sale site is mainly for office and residential use, the tourism site will eventually be developed for attraction and leisure use, with ancillary hotel and retail uses to serve both residents and visitors, she said.
STB is “looking at the RFP”, she added, with the tourism site’s location capitalising on the views of Jurong Lake.
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