Sentosa revamp adds Brani to tourism map

Singapore has set out a two-decade plan to reshape Sentosa and neighbouring Brani into a larger leisure and lifestyle district, with new attractions, hotels, beaches, transport links and coastal protection works expected to open in phases from the early 2030s.

The Greater Sentosa Master Plan brings the 120-hectare Brani under Sentosa’s development framework, creating a larger tourism precinct at a time when Singapore is refreshing its visitor economy and preparing for stronger regional competition in leisure, hospitality and events. The project is being positioned as the biggest transformation of Sentosa since the island was developed as a resort destination more than five decades ago.

Sentosa drew more than 16 million visitors between April 2024 and March 2025. Once the master plan is fully delivered, the enlarged precinct is projected to attract about twice that number. The long development period reflects the scale of infrastructure works, the planned relocation of port operations from Brani to Tuas by 2027, and the need to combine commercial expansion with coastal and ecological safeguards.

A major element of the plan is Brani West, which has been earmarked as one of the largest future sites for attractions development. Authorities are engaging potential partners and concept owners, though details on investors, operators and the cost of the project have not been disclosed. The lack of a public investment figure leaves open questions on funding, phasing and commercial returns, particularly as large tourism projects face higher construction costs, labour constraints and changing traveller preferences.

The plan also includes new landmarks on Sentosa itself. Imbiah Canopy is proposed as a vantage point on Mount Imbiah, with food and beverage outlets, retail space, event areas and links to nature-based activities. A sheltered elevated forest canopy route, Imbiah Lookout Walk, is expected to connect Sensoryscape with Imbiah Lookout and nearby walking trails. Later phases are intended to expand nature and heritage routes, with the possibility of linking Sentosa’s green areas to the Southern Ridges on the mainland.

Along Siloso Beach, a new venue called Sensorium is being planned as a lifestyle and indoor attraction hub capable of hosting events and festival activity. The broader beach redevelopment will cover Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong, where coastal protection works will be paired with new leisure uses. Concepts under study include beach clubs, coastal activities, treetop dining, and a floating boardwalk linking small islets along Sentosa’s 3km beachfront.

Transport is another central feature. The proposed Island Heart Transport Hub will serve as a new arrival point connecting Sentosa and Brani, while a new people-mover system is expected to replace the Sentosa Express monorail. The new system is intended to increase capacity and provide smoother movement from the mainland through Brani and across Sentosa. Water taxis and additional waterfront links are also being examined, while the Singapore Cable Car will continue to form part of the wider mobility network.

The transformation is tied to wider planning along Singapore’s southern waterfront, a 30km belt stretching from Gardens by the Bay East to Pasir Panjang. That corridor is expected to include new residential, commercial, recreational and entertainment spaces as port activities shift westwards. Greater Sentosa is also being developed as Singapore prepares for Changi Airport Terminal 5, due around the mid-2030s, which will add about 50 million passengers a year in its first phase to the airport’s current capacity of 90 million.

The tourism strategy goes beyond building new attractions. Singapore is seeking to broaden its appeal from stopover travel and convention traffic to experience-led visits, family tourism, events, coastal leisure and premium lifestyle spending. Resorts World Sentosa is also expanding its offer, with a Waterfront Lifestyle Development scheduled for completion in 2030 and Super Nintendo World planned for Universal Studios Singapore. These additions are expected to support a shift from single-attraction visits towards longer, multi-part itineraries across the island.

Sustainability has been built into the planning narrative, reflecting the vulnerability of a low-lying city-state to sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Sentosa has about 16km of coastline, making protection works a practical requirement rather than an optional enhancement. The master plan includes ecological connectivity, shaded routes, greenery, thermal comfort measures and coastal resilience features. Sensoryscape, a 350m connector linking Resorts World Sentosa to the beaches, is being used as an early example of infrastructure that combines visitor flow, planting, accessibility and digital experiences.