Casino to Open on CNY by Alex

Title: Casino to Open on CNY

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_489672.html

Author: Alex

The resort world Sentosa is designated to open on Feb, 14^th, both the Valentine’s Day and the first day of Chinese New Year. However, the only complete attraction is the casino, while the universal studio and other attractions are much under construction without a firm opening date.

The opening of casinos is an essential step in Singapore’s long term strategy in achieving its ambition of becoming the commercial and business center of Asia. Though the government clearly understands how much damage it may bring to the local people once they get addicted, it still decided to make the sacrifice for a 1.5 billion GDP boost every year, which mainly comes from foreign tourists.

Since casinos do bring a lot of other things to the city, such as crimes, drugs, or porn, the government is also putting very strict regulations on local people, such as imposing a $100 entrance fee for locals. However, I doubt it is going to work. For those who really want to try their luck in the casinos, they’d be more than willing to pay the $100 in exchange for a one-day frenzy. Besides, the guards cannot constantly check the gambler’s ID to see if they are locals or not. The rules are probably going to end up like a 2012 doomsday joke – everybody knows it, nobody cares. They are not really going to prevent locals from enjoying the fun of becoming a millionaire or going bankruptcy in one night.

As a student, well, I’m not 21 yet, which yields me enough time to practice the basic etiquettes and strategies that may be used in casinos. For people who are dreaming of beating the dealer, I just want to inform you that, when a lamb goes into the slaughter house, it’s not going to walk out alive…

Week 6 Reflection on Singapore tourism by Elaine

The fact is gradually gaining people’s attention that the tourism industry of Singapore shrank in the last year. Statistics show that the number of tourists in 2009 dropped down by 4.3% along with the revenue of tourism which decreased by 19%. Under the recession, the plunge in this entertaining industry is acceptable but it also concerned the related authority. However, the upswing in the end of year gave them much confidence in the future development of this industry.


In my opinion, the shrink in tourism of Singapore is mainly because of the economy recession. People are trying hard to save money in this special period and trim a lot of their entertaining budget which include the travelling expense. However, there are still examples that had prosperous tourism last year such as Taiwan. There is no doubt that the improvement of cross-straits ties between mainland China and Taiwan prompted the industry. But their efforts in advertising also played a very crucial role. I really appreciate the idea of ‘Unique Singapore’ which is used as the slogan for travelling in Singapore. But compared to Taiwan, it lacks the detailed content in the advertisement about the word ‘unique’. The videos, billboards and the banners don’t present clearly the unique attractions in Singapore. Therefore, the slogan looks a bit vacuous and lacks influences among its target audience. On the contrary, the characteristic views and products, such as springs, 101 building, beef noodles and Shilin night market, abound in the advertisement of Taiwan Travelling. The pattern they present these attractions are also corresponding with their slogan—‘Welcome 2 Taiwan’ which is aimed to show two opposite styles- urban and country in Taiwan. Customers can directly recognize the special features in Taiwan and are very curious about the travelling experience there. I think if Singapore manage to do the same work for their advertising, they will also achieve success.


For this year, I think the dark clouds over tourism in Singapore will be swept away because several important events are taking place there. In addition to some regular event like F1 race, the debut of Integrated Resort and YOG will attract lots of tourists to this charming island.

Week 6 Reflection on local issue by harry

Week 6 Reflection on local issue by harry (Zhang Zheqi)

The hottest issue in Singapore recently must be the integrated resort. People are curious about the novelty of casino; expect the Resort World Sentosa will bring Singapore more wealth while concern about the negative effects coming with it. I also think the integrated resort can be a double blade sword to Singapore. On the one hand the casino many stimulate the economic growth. On the other hand, if the government cannot deal with latent danger properly, then the whole society will be at risk.

There are four potential risks according to my point of view: gamble addiction, underworld organization, drugs and usury. These four aspects are not isolated. They have close connection in between, such as gamble addiction will lead to usury, usury will generate underworld organization, and mafia will further bring more serious drug abuse and crimes. So it is critical for government to protect these kinds of vice.

Apart from buildup police force with special knowledge, I believe citizens also need some basic education about gamble. As individual I think gamble is powder train of all kinds of evil. So I hope everyone can keep distance from casino and live a harmonious and happy life.

Comments

I posted comments on Rachel and Elaine's post

Week 5 Comments

I comment on Sliver's and Sally's articles.

Debate Topic

Debate Topic
Should university build enough resident halls, so that every student is able to live in the campus.

If other team members has other idea, please also post out.

Week 5: Comment (by harry)

Comment 1 -- Comment on Alex
Title: Ex-scholarship holder in opposition? No big deal
URL:http://harrysporters.blogspot.com/2010/01/ex-scholarship-holder-in-opposition-no.html

What can I say is ‘public controversy and independent information providing a corrective context’ (Smith 1976). So the opposite voices from dissidents are conducive to the prosperousness of Singapore. As Voltaire said：‘I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.’As long as they are not subversive parties, their opinions should be respected. Sometimes the arguments improve and perfect the original plan. I believe that no matter the governing party or the parties out of the office have the same vision which is make the nation more harmonious and prosperous. The only difference is process. So I strongly agree with Alex that: we ought to assess the scholars’ contributions to the nation, not the government.

Another point of view which I can hardly agree is “but in terms of openness and democracy, U.S. is a leading paragon in the world.” In my mind, the United States is negative sample of democracy. I believe everyone one in the world, as long as he or she is merciful and wise, will not say the country who lunch wars in other countries, who has guards abused prisons in Guantanamo, who sold weapons to the encourage conflicts in other countries, who has serious discrimination is a “leading paragon of openness and democratic in the world”. I will not deny American is still the most developed and powerful country in the world but it is not equal to democracy. (By Harry)





Comment 2 – comment on Helen
Title: forum--Helen
URL: http://groupc-royalflush.blogspot.com/2010/01/forum-helen.html

I do not think the expenses of police units in the casinos will not paid by taxpayers of Singapore. Singapore government decides to build the high-class casino in order to stimulate consumption. The casino will attract thousands of rich people to Singapore. It will bring billions of income. Only a minute part of it will be enough to pay the police spending.

I think what we need to concern more about is the social problem. Such as addiction of gamble, gang problem and so on. The different admission of foreigners and natives is much more like propagation. I think what our mathematics lecturer makes fun of is a feasible and effective. The government should popularize the basic knowledge of possibility which will reveal essence of gamble. More moral education is essential for all the Singaporeans before the casinos bring harm to the society. (By Harry)