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A place for all Singaporeans?
I read about the upcoming Universal Studios theme park in Singapore and that it is meant to be a place “for all Singaporeans”. It sounds well and good and the said $66 per adult for a 1 day pass is supposed to be reasonably low compared to the prices of theme parks in other parts of the world. A 1 day ticket for kids will cost $48 while senior citizens enter at $32 per person.
A check on Universal Studios Orlando’s website shows that a 1 day 1 park ticket costs US$79 (but there is a current offer of $73), and Disneyland meanwhile charges between USD$62 and USD$72 for a 1 day 1 park ticket. There is no need to compare with currency conversions because we’d have to take into account costs of living etc.
While I think it is comparable to the prices of other theme parks, it still is pretty steep for a whole family to visit the park multiple times a year. A family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) will have to spend $228 just for a 1 day outing to the park, not inclusive of food, transport and other costs. While this may sound affordable to the higher and upper middle classes, it certainly is too much to spend in a day for everyone else. It will probably be one more way to evoke a sense of envy from kids comparing the haves and the have-nots. And with the Singapore government’s push for citizens to have more children, those who heeded the call and have more than 2 kids are certainly going to feel a bigger pinch getting the whole family to this theme park!
I understand that the park is a commercial project and it has to charge prices that will ensure its survival but if it is priced too high beyond the reach of an average family, then it can be a “place for all Singaporeans” but maybe only once in a lifetime. It will then have to sustain itself from tourist income.
What’s interesting though is that Universal Studios Orlando has promotional prices for Florida residents with a 1 day 1 park ticket going for USD$54.99. While Singapore just does not compare in terms of resident population size (and non-state resident population) to have a similar scheme all year round, I hope the Studios will have promotional rates for Singaporeans perhaps say, in the month of August or sometime in the year. Or perhaps it can be supportive of bigger families, and have special rates for the third and subsequent children per family!
Oh and if someone can explain the logic behind pricing tickets for senior citizens ($32) below the price of a ticket for a child ($48) to a theme park…I would be extremely grateful. While I am all for senior citizens perks, it seems ironic to me and it would make much more sense if kids too have a ticket price as low as grams’!
Mickey
November 27th, 2009 at 7:58 am
It would be good to hear some comparisons of whats on offer for a start. Are we comparing apple to apple?
My angmo friend where I am currently dwelling (West) has recently visited Spore/Sentosa and commented to me that the place is a poor man’s Disney. In other words, it is nowhere near the Western theme parks.
Western countries have family package pricing too. If Spore wants to copy others, why don’t copy pricing structure and special promos too?
Feroz
November 29th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
I don’t want to say much about theme parks …. just wondering who controls pricing, the authorities or the management of the theme park? … anyhow, they should allow free entrance to senior citizen because it does not encourage their children bring them along if it is already quite a sum for the rest of the family …. in the uncertain economic climate….
Rodolfo
December 1st, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I don’t mean to be cynical but aren’t we already quite used to this kind of talk? Saying one thing and doing another? If it is a spade, political/business leaders should call it a spade. We, the citizens, can see for ourselves what it is and what it is not.
pimpmaster
December 1st, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Ah, another typical day…always about a bargain.
Let's come back to Policies
December 4th, 2009 at 1:02 am
Can we stick to the real issues.Why is the PAP always distracting us.The NDP Rally was on racial harmony when the real issue is the economy.No mention of the Multi Billion Dollar Losses of the 2 SWF’s.Why is that?
And now we have Young PAP writing about inconsequential stuff like the IR and the entrance fees to theme parks.Why did you guys not blog for more than a month?is elections really coming?
We all know that the IR will get topped up and the elections will be called.And then the IR will become a white elephant because markets will tank in 2nd half 2010.That is why elections in 1st half of 2010 is a must for the PAP.We will then see a GST increase to 10% to ‘help the poor’.
Can one of you tackle on the real issues and not something like the entrance ticket to the IRs.They will waiver the $100 entrance fee for Singaporeans in the 2nd hald when markets tank for the casinoes.
The PAP will also character assassinate the Opposition members.In 1988, Francis Seow the Womaniser, 1991 Jufrie the Malay Chauvinist,1997 Tang the Chinese Chauvinist,2001 Dr Chee the Liar and Cheat and yes 2006 Gomezgate over a minority certificate.
Wow, Khartini, minorities have to prove that they are Singaporeans.Don’t you ever feel that the PAP gives positions to the minorities like a form of tokenship.Before 1988 GE, the minorities were winning wards despite their ‘disadvantage’.
So we all know why the GRC was set up.And all the fixing was done.With operation Coldstore and the detainment of the so called Marxists.It turned off a couple of the old guard like Toh Chin Chye and Rajaretnam.Even Richard Hu and Dhanabalan quit later.
Enough of the wayang.This is the 21st Century.Welcome to the real world PAP.You can keep on importing foreigners to replace Singaporeans to turn this to a hotel and Monaco for the elites like yourself.But karma will catch up with all of you.
We will find out everything and all the buried skeletons in the closet.And it is going to happen soon.All we will see all your black spots on those ‘white shirts’.
Khartini Khalid
December 4th, 2009 at 3:02 am
No one was being dictatorial in saying that I (or we) would have to write about only certain topics. I am free to write on what I wish, and you are free to read (or not to read) what you wish.
Just a feedback
December 4th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Khartini
If you are responding because of the previous post, my observation is that it was just a feedback of how or what the poster felt he likes to see in this forum. No need to get so fluffed. Of course no one was ‘being dictatorial’ as with Straits Times and as with all other MSM I believe. But just to prove a point, try writing something like “Where has the $3 bil in losses from HDB gone?” Go into the accounts including the drop in HDB sales/subsidies vs the increase in losses due to sales/subsidies (sorry if it causes your head to hurt). See what will happen to you from on high. Actually we would love to see that you are still ABLE to be around to write many more articles if that happens.
What of the views of Chinese PAP65 members?
December 5th, 2009 at 2:12 am
Agree with ‘Just a Feedback’.
Please publish an article on “Where has the $3 bil in losses from HDB gone?”.The Young PAP website is a big wayang.I notice that you guys have pushed some articles which are critical of the PAP to the back.
Now you are doing ‘We are One’ and Community relatd projects just before elections.Where have you all been all this while?Stop diverting the issue.
And why is there no mention of how the Malay or the Indian languages are taught when it comes to Bilingualism?Why are the minorites who are supposedly 25% of the population are constantly overlooked?
Are the minorities in PAP just tokens.Because if you notice one of the Young PAP videos, as soon as the Malay lady went up, all the cameras (like 3) were centred on her.
Khartini please raise issues concerning about the minority communities.We are always getting forgotten in the Singapore realm of things.
Khartini Khalid
December 5th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Thanks for your comments (the last two posts).
@Just a feedback: Just to clarify, I wasn’t fluffed. Just stating a point cos I think some people think that we are told about what to write here, which is not true. Not everything here has to be about policies/politics all the time, at least, not for my posts.
@What of the views of Chinese PAP65 members?: Hmm. You’ve got a point on the teaching methods of Malay and Tamil. Perhaps you can write a letter to the forum page on this, it could be a good debate. Although the ML language is probably the easiest to learn of the three, I suppose all racial groups are facing challenges with vernacular languages due to us using English all the time.
Singapore Girl Next Door
December 5th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Khartini, I’m disheartened.
This blog is a powerful tool. It can be a voice for all Singaporeans. The caption “it’s where we talk” aptly says it.
And talking certainly is a two-way dialogue. It’s not where we simply sit, bow our heads, place our hands in our laps, and say “uhuh uh hmmm, yes, yes, yes”.
We, the Singapore’s youth, have a heartbreak. We are an educated generation, one that thinks for itself, and that can not stomach the current state of the PAP. That is – out-of-touch, out-of-ideas, and running out-of-time.
We are grateful for the founders of PAP. Those who run our government in the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s. But the current PAP leadership, if anything, sad to say, simply rides into the successes of past leaders, but had the audacity to demand gratitude from us.
I’m grateful to the PAP of the past. But not to present. It still has to prove itself. It instead, chose a path below our expectations. We might as well blame the old PAP for setting the bar so high. But we can not expect anything less from our government. We have given up so much for them to have so much power.
And they ought to know…..They ought to know.
So you Khartini, are given a powerful tool that can be used to voice out our concerns……the youth. That’s what the Young PAP is for.
But if you insist that having such a powerful tool should be used only for your fancy, artsy, and airy fairy talk of banality and mundaneness, and not to be fully utilized to voice the concerns of the people, then you are as out-of-touch as the rest of the current PAP leadership.
And by “concerns”, we only meant the need to have a dialogue to come to a solution to problems that we face everyday.
But it’s too much to ask from you.
Why is why you being the face of what is to come from PAP, I’m disheartened.
Disappointed, and disheartened.
You are nothing but a generation of PAP wannabees who rides at the success of the past, and really had to nothing to prove.
sgcynic
December 5th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Amen, Singapore Girl Next Door. You give me hope that our City has a future.
PeterL
December 11th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Hi Kartini, may I suggest that all senior citizens be given a blanket 50%70% discount since they were the ones who sacrificed most during the early years,as for the kids,well they have to earn their keeps and most likely mum & dad are keeping up with the Jonses announcing their arrival(no offence) and jolly well can afford it.
PeterL
December 11th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Singapore Girl next door-
Here is a platform to voice your grievances use it wisely.The Bar raised was truly High by the old guards and I do agree that the new generation PAP leaders has to fill a pretty big pair of shoes.
Lets look at the big picture,I had a daughter in Uni and was so very disappointed when Vivien Balakrishnan was roped in after a tea session.She and her fellow Uni mates felt betrayed and shouted “SOLD OUT”. I do not blame her and her friends after having watch Vivien on TV debates since young.
.Let me recall sometime in the late 70s 80s tertiary debates.Young Vivien was indeed vociferous over the Graduate Mother Scheme calling to mind during the debate that such a scheme was mooted to create a Master Race and the man who had such a scheme in mind was a man called Hitler.He was a hero to the young than and that includes my daughter who is 32 today.Vivien was not marginalized nor penalized but went on to finish his NUS studies and made a career for himself in the Health Industries.His reason for joining the govt. was not selling out his principals but contributing positively in a winning team as he later explained.Some may not agree and I do not blame them after all to be roped in for tea to join a winning team to make your country a better place for your family is better than packing up and leaving your roots.For that Vivien was admired today because he could have left and any 1st world country would welcome him with open arms.
In a nutshell young lady if you will permit me to Quote President Kennedy “Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country”. Should you find the PAP disgusting and not to your liking join an opposition or vote opposition and remember you have a vote to replace or place an MP of your choice in the forthcoming coming election do it with your head and not your heart because the person you put into parliament will either do what you expect of him/her or just contribute nothing but rethorics and collecting $18,000 for the next 3 to 5 years through your kind courtesy.
Khartini Khalid
December 11th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your comments. The quote you shared is indeed one of my favourite quotes. I would like to follow up on this at some point – unfortunately now I am in the midst of exams + term papers (arrgh!) with deadlines looming really close…but I will be back soon.
We are voting PAP out
December 11th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
It’s Decided.I would like to confirm here that we are starting a petition to vote the PAP out.
If you guys are reading this, you guys obviously do not understand Singapore anymore.Can’t believe you are now recruiting foreigners to tell us how to vote and decide our futures.
We have an e-mail petition going out with all these posts and we have already gathered more than 100 signatories.We are aiming for 5,000 by the end of the month.We shall show you our grassroots network.
To my fellow singaporeans, we will have a website up soon and would encourage you to sign up.Thanks for your support.
And for the opposition, you have our support.Watch the swing in electoral votes this election.My colleagues, there are 20 of us all voted for PAP last election and we are regretting.We talk about our votes and we don’t care if it is a secret.We don’t even care if the PAP decides to track our IP address to our office.
And we have received more than 100 votes of supports from our friends in just one day.We thank all the Pro Singapore posters here for educating us and expressing our heartfelt feelings about our country.
Continue the good work.Vote the PAP out.Vote for Change.
PeterL
December 11th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
We are voting PAP OUT-
Whoever you are Sir/Madam good luck with your enthusiasm. I voted an opposition voice way back in the 80s & 90s to hear an alternative view.Only Mr. Chiam and Mr. Low succeed it and sustained till today and that was through almost 25 years of hard work and not given in a silver plate to them by or approve by the PAP.
To achieve your goals you must run that marathon bravely without fear and prove your mettle, not just talk but walk the talk.Remember, Singaporeans may be Kiasu or Kiasi but one thing they are not is an IDIOT.
TBK
December 11th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
PeterL: “His reason for joining the govt. was not selling out his principals but contributing positively in a winning team as he later explained.”
- Vivien would say that wouldn’t he? Anyone who joins PAP would say that wouldn’t they? Did Vivien manage to contribute positively? Did all these present MIWs manage to contribute positively? Why all these reasonable negative comments?
- If talents who join PAP have said that they are there for the sake of the country and people (not money), why is the ruling party using competitive salary to attract them from private sectors?
For your info, Fredric Fanthom also commented that he supports the ruling party not for the money (potential money should he become one of them in govt).
Singapore Girl Next Door
December 11th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
PeterL,
You put words into other people’s mouth as fast as you invent facts in your head.
The debate is about the present day PAP. The mistakes they are currently making is a burden that will be carried by the youth.
We owe our gratitude to our forefathers, and to the PAP of the past.
Unfortunately, what we currently have are a monopoly of leaders who have no major accomplishments to speak of, and failed to live up to the standards of our founders.
The qualities of the MM and SM are not found in the current party members, which is why the next generation PM is not among them.
Instead, they continue to ride on the successes of the past,
and demand gratitude from the people merely because it wears the PAP’s badge.
What we need is a voice of conscience in our government.
No one calls for the PAP to be removed. Nor do we think that they are disgusting. These are your words. But only if you read discerningly, then you’d know for certain.
A call for the opposition, is only a call to make sure the governing party is still grounded.
We, too admired the PAP, and we will continue to admire the current generation of PAP only if they start living up to the expectations and standards that we come to know of our benevolent leaders.
If we find ourselves in the side of the opposition, that is only because the PAP was once the opposition too. And we remember too well WHO they fought for.
But you have to admit, the current PAP is nothing but a shadow of its past glory.
We, the citizenry, have the right to demand high standards from them.
But to you, that’s too much to ask from them, for you too, are too proud of that badge to even remember what it really stood for.
With love to all my fellow Singaporeans,
Singapore Girl Next Door
Singapore Girl Next Door
December 11th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
PeterL,
I’m disappointed that you believe that serving one’s country only meant serving the PAP.
If you remained grounded with two feet, you’d remembebr there are many ways to serve.
My calling was to serve the opposition, for they represent the balance of power, and the voice of conscience.
And these are what we desperately need.
There’s a big difference between serving the PAP….and serving Singaporeans.
I chose the latter.
With love,
SGND
PeterL
December 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Singapore Girl next door-
Sorry young lady if I had disappointed you or read you wrongly.I am not in a position to comment on the new generation of leaders but I am sure with MM & SM still present they would be in a better position to gauge better with 50 years of experience.
In my 50 years of observation I have seen MM & SM replaced Presidents, ministers and MPs, even jail some of them for
wrong doings.
I am not a PAP member or sycophant but do appreciate what they had done to lift Singapore from what it was to what it is today.
I was there at Raffles Institution Grange Road when JBJ won,I watch Chiam See Thong in his Volkswagon contesting at Cairnhill and finally took a seat at Potong Pasir after an uphill task.I watch Lau Kah Thiang rally the Teochew community at Hougang and I was proud to see this Davids in Parliament voicing an alternative view.
What I am trying to say is that you have a vote, use it wisely,you have a choice pick it correctly, the system is in place and you can make the change from within or without.
I am not a politician nor a professional but an ordinary 65 year old Singaporean proud of his country.Just like you youngsters debating with so much enthusiasm I too would like to wade in and be a Kaypoh sometimes.Should I ruffle any feathers,nothing personal.
TBK- I do not know much of Mr. F but Vivien having to sacrifice his privacy to do a thankless job when he is quite cushy as CEO that provides him more than enough speaks for itself his true intentions,I would rather have him than to pay peanuts and get a monkey to do the job.
Khartini Khalid
December 12th, 2009 at 11:35 am
@Girl next door:
A lot of other countries do not even have a decent past to build on.
But you are right in saying that serving Singapore does not have to only mean serving via the PAP. It has been perceived as such because of PAP’s overwhelming rule over the last few decades thus leading to a situation where the two (PAP and Singapore) are seen as synonymous although whichever party in control is undeniably still serving its constituents and hence, serving Singaporeans.
I am glad to hear that you are very pro-Singapore (whatever your political inclinations may be). What are your wishes for Singapore? What kind of a society would you like to see? And by this I do not mean just “having an opposition party” because that in itself, may or may not lead to any changes in line with the kind of society you are hoping for.
SingaShadow
December 12th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
On pricing — We have to come to realize the value and the mechanism of commercialization.
If we can’t run a theme park better than Universal Studios, then we have to let them have the full flexibility of operating it (assuming the goal is to have one). And we must of course accept the fact that they are revenue driven.
Of course, we can lay regulations beforehand (such as those “social responsibilities” that the population desires), but we must also know that they have the choice of not taking the project up. After all, they are not the usual stat board that you think owns you a life.
PeterL
December 12th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Dear Khartini,
Stay focus on your academic and career path before politics,I too had political ideals when I was young but that does not help put two decent meals on the table for my family.
Politics is either A) totally corrupt or B) total dedication and sacrifice.(that is my opinion after observation over a period of 50 years sorry if anyone disagree)
I am non of either and became an ordinary Singaporean hoping that the people that we put into power is B and not A.
Khatini,whatever the outcome always stay true to your path and let your conscience and FAITH be your guide.
Khartini Khalid
December 13th, 2009 at 7:47 am
@Singashadow: In the US, commercial entities do offer good promotions. Perhaps they have the market and numbers to do so. But the world is not as you think, it is not all about depending on statboards/govt.
@PeterL: Thanks for your wishes. I have no political ambitions. I am only someone who likes to express my views in writing (sometimes in speech too). That’s all. But yes, I will let faith be my guide! Exam time now!
visvis
December 13th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Selling Singapore Asset like Singapore Power to overseas companies , does it make the power cheaper to citizen ? or more expensive ? and we are buying Gas in Indonesia to Power our Electricity should be cheap . And where the Gas price n not Fuel price .Do the people in charge knows the difference ? fuel n Gas pricing??
visvis
December 13th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Paying Peanut so monkeys Visit CBD ??
visvis
December 13th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Let switch contracters after 5 years to see how they can manage it then using same old outdated contracters. as the contracters have lots of high end managment people that getting high salaries then the employee that doing the hardwork .
visvis
December 13th, 2009 at 10:06 am
don’t blame the weather while the agencies not doing the job “BT flooding ” drainage not upgrading sitting there for more then 20+years. NEA n PUB
visvis
December 13th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Why are there people without a sit still holding a post ? when they lose in the past Election.
SingaShadow
December 21st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
@Khartini Khalid
Perhaps I wasn’t clear. I’m not saying the issue is about dependence on the govt/stat board.
The issue, as I see, is that once we decide to let a for-profit business undertake a project, we can’t really enforce them to have socially friendly practices. The alternative to commercialization hinges on if the government sector can deliver the same thing at the same cost. In this case, it’s hard to beat Universal Studios (more so if you consider the trademarks).
There is always trade-offs between nationalization and commercialization. It is a recurring issue that we have to recognize.
sartisel
January 28th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
the pricing and what so ever is not even the least related. is it unfortunate that the country is facing inflation with such immense developement. if only our wages can rise too would it be better?
2. is the development of such facilities sustainable if it was just purely for tourism>? i am sure the pricing will monitored close to that
3. chatting on govt policy to engage the larger market outside rather than the pathetic internal small market. it is definitely true that the govt do prioritize foreigners in order to attract investments but i am sure the key benefits in time to come remains exclusively Singaporeans we are small, we need strong allies, cheap labor and a big market for time to come.bid for time to become sufficiently strong.it will come
4. to people who are myopic, i hope they can see the priorities for progress. to people who really wish an over the top disneyland, i dont think that is sustainable. asia has quite a few share of disneyland already….