Your Excellency Ambassador Pierre Buhler of France

Your Excellency Ambassador Makoto Yamanaka of Japan                   

Mr Soo Kok Leng, Chairman of the Mt Faber Leisure Group

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Evening.

Introduction

It gives me great pleasure to join you this evening at the launch of The Jewel Box’s new extension.  This happy occasion marks yet another important and successful milestone for the Mount Faber Leisure Group.

Tourism backdrop

2          Several new and interesting tourism products are coming on stream in Singapore over the next few years.  This new “Green” extension of the Jewel Box, together with the Integrated Resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa, and other developments such as the new International Cruise Centre, Gardens by the Bay and Mandai’s new gates, will certainly enhance our overall tourism appeal.

3          The development of tourism infrastructure - the hardware - must also be complemented by the advent of exciting events - the software.  The inaugural Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, which we hosted three weekends ago, has firmly put Singapore on the world map as a global city and an events capital in Asia.  Other upcoming major events like the Volvo Ocean Race and the Youth Olympic Games in 2010 will further enhance the vibrancy and buzz in Singapore, giving tourists even more reasons to choose Singapore as a preferred destination in the years ahead.

Rejuvenating the tourism landscape

4          As a rule, and especially against the backdrop of the current bleak economic outlook, we need continual innovation and re-positioning of Singapore’s value proposition as a tourism destination.  It is essential if we are to keep our tourism landscape inviting and preserve, if not enhance, our share of the global tourism pie.  A regular injection of novel attractions, activities and lifestyle events, will not only attract visitors, but also capture international “mindshare”, which in turn will catalyse new economic opportunities for Singapore.  To this end, Mount Faber, HarbourFront and Sentosa have established an energetic and vibrant presence for both visitors and Singaporeans seeking engaging lifestyle and recreational activities.  They not only add zest to the southern precinct but also lend a distinctive character to our tourism landscape.

The Jewel Box’s new extension

5          Today’s launch of The Jewel Box’s new extension marks a remarkable transformation of this venue, from a mere cable car station into a multi-faceted and upscale attraction for tourists and locals alike.  The Jewel Box already enjoys a niche in revellers’ minds as a great venue for dining and entertainment.  With the upcoming New Concept Restaurant, I believe that the Jewel Box’s popularity can only strengthen further.

6          A distinctive and laudable aspect of the new extension is the integration of its unique architectural design with the lush greenery amidst which it is set.  It is sensitive to its environment whilst making the most of Mount Faber’s natural heritage.  For example, the many mature Angsana trees around us were carefully incorporated in the building design.  I am also told that the wooden arcs you see above us utilise an environmentally friendly technology called “glulam” where pieces of laminated timber are glued together, requiring six times less energy to produce than a normal steel beam.

Conclusion

7          I congratulate the board and management of the Mount Faber Leisure Group on your sterling work in transforming the Jewel Box.  Your efforts have contributed significantly to the development of Mt Faber and the Southern Waterfront into a compelling tourism destination, and I look forward to the novel experience that your new extension will offer Singaporeans and visitors.