After long deliberation, Singapore has finally selected developers for its two long-planned integrated resort projects, and details of the projects have been announced.

The US$3.6 billion Marina Bay Sands will be developed by the Las Vegas-based group Sands, and comprises a spectacular structure with three towers - containing 2,500 hotel rooms - and crowned by a suspended garden. It also incorporates a shopping centre with a canal, a promenade with an ArtScience Museum and an outdoor stage, 98,000 square metres of exhibition halls, and a casino - representing only 3% of the total resort area. The project is expected to attract 25 million visitors during its first full year of activity in 2009.

The second project, located on Sentosa Island, has gone to Resorts World, which includes the Malaysian gambling operator Genting Group. Due to open in 2010, it is designated a family-oriented resort. The US$ 3.8 billion investment will include six hotels with 1,830 rooms, and 22 attractions that include Universal Studios Singapore, a marine-life park, a water-themed park, a convention centre, a shopping centre and a casino.