STB seeks proposals for waterfront wellness attraction in Marina South

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has called for proposals to develop and operate a new 4ha wellness attraction located along the waterfront near Marina Barrage.

- Anjali Raguraman

Examples of what visitors might eventually enjoy include fitness activities, therapeutic art, or tech-based offerings such as flotation therapy, which typically involves floating in sensory deprivation tanks, it said.

Activities may be indoor or outdoor, and may also fall into the complementary health and alternative therapy space.

The key is that proposals must feature “innovative, high-quality” concepts that benefit physical, emotional or mental wellness, STB said in a statement on July 5.

The attraction at the Marina South Coastal site is also expected to have a regular pipeline of wellness-themed events or programmes on its premises, including in public spaces, and in the surrounding areas. These will need to appeal to both tourists and residents.

“The wellness attraction will be one of the key attractions in the precinct when completed, complementing other places of interest such as Gardens by the Bay, Founders’ Memorial in Bay East and Marina Barrage,” said STB.

The tender is open to both local and international bidders, and will close on Oct 4.

When asked how the attraction will differentiate itself from offerings in established wellness and resort destinations in the region like Bali and Phuket, STB chief Melissa Ow said it would be “a large-format development, and one which is within the context of Singapore as an urban destination”.

“It will play to Singapore’s strength of convenience, and have a replete set of offerings related to lifestyle and leisure,” she said.

The Marina South Coastal site, which is currently vacant, is approximately the size of six football fields.