‘We always find something new to discover’: Why these S’poreans keep returning to Sentosa 

Everyone has their own Sentosa story. 

For Jeremy Ratnam, his began in 1982 with a ferry ride from the former World Trade Centre that, to a 10-year-old, felt like the start of an overseas holiday.

With his extended family of 20, he spent that weekend at a chalet on Sentosa, playing badminton, tossing frisbees and hanging out at the beach. 

“It was a dream come true to get away from city life. The greenery, the beach, the sea – it was all magical,” recalls the 54-year-old content producer-presenter.

For many Singaporeans, Sentosa has been the backdrop to countless school-holiday outings, family picnics, first dates and milestone celebrations. From its beginnings as a fishing village to an iconic leisure destination, it has quietly collected pieces of Singaporeans’ lives.

Public relations manager Tabitha Ong, 31, still remembers the thrill of taking the cable car in the 1990s. “It’s just that feeling that you’re going somewhere new,” she reminisces.

Completed in 1974, the cable car system was the first in the world to be built over a harbour, serving as both a commuting option and an attraction in itself. Together with ferries and tour buses, it shaped how visitors first experienced Sentosa. Later, the monorail, Sentosa Causeway and the 2007 opening of the Sentosa Express further transformed access to and around the island. 

From first dates to family outings

Few people have witnessed this transformation as closely as Asmah Aziz, who has worked on Sentosa for 50 years. She began as a guide on one of the island’s tour buses plying between its beaches and attractions. 

In 1979, she met her late husband on one of the buses. Then stationed at the island’s golf course, he would try to catch her attention by hopping onto the bus. He later proposed on the soft white sands of Tanjong Beach. 

“I didn’t like him at first!” she says with a laugh. “But he became my sincere life partner.”

The couple’s memories span former icons such as the Coralarium (Sentosa’s very first attraction that showcased the beauty of corals), Fort Siloso’s early days as a gun museum and the various beaches where their three daughters once enjoyed kayaking. 

One of Asmah’s favourite spots was the former Musical Fountain built in the 1980s, known for its synchronised display of water, lights and music. It was the predecessor to the current Wings of Time light show which combines lasers, water effects and a daily fireworks spectacle.

She also recalls the free concerts and dance performances at the Ferry Terminal, biathlon sporting events, and even a Bon Jovi concert. 

Today, the grandmother of six works as an administrator on Sentosa and continues to discover new attractions with her family. These include Sentosa Sensoryscape, an immersive, multi-sensory passageway opened in 2024.  

Each visit adds another layer to the family’s shared history, as old memories are passed on and new ones are made.

While the chalets of Ratnam’s childhood are no longer there, Sentosa remains central to his family life. His first date with his wife was at Siloso Beach, where they spent the night stargazing. Weeks later, after dinner at Silver Shell Cafe, he brought her to the lawn of Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa and told her that was where they should get married.

They held their wedding there in 2005.

“People think of going to Bali or Phuket to get married because the views are breathtaking. But Sentosa has that same magic,” he says. “Right at the edge of Siloso Beach, the view is spectacular and the sunset amazing.” 

The same venue later became the setting for anniversaries and family celebrations and staycations, and the couple hopes to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on the island in four years’ time. 

Whenever Ratnam announces a Sentosa staycation, his four teenage children show the same excitement he once had. 

“Sentosa has played a big part in our togetherness,” he says. “People always say that Singapore and Sentosa are small but we always find something new to discover and explore here.”

Ong feels the same pull as a parent. She now brings her four- and 11-year-old sons to Sentosa, hoping they will experience the same sense of wonder she once felt as a child. 

For her family, that could mean a ride on the Sentosa Luge, a turn at the adrenaline-pumping HyperDrive, or an afternoon at Splash Tribe, a beach club where the children can expend their energy while she and her husband unwind nearby. 

“We are always caught up in technology now. Some days, it’s nice to go back to the simpler things in life, and just disconnect and focus on spending time together,” she says. “I hope that my kids get the chance to build their own childhood memories of Sentosa.”

How Sentosa keeps evolving

For Ratnam, the island’s charm lies in how it keeps renewing itself.  

“Sentosa keeps changing, like music stars who keep reinventing themselves,” he says. “But at the same time, it has kept its tranquility, transporting you into another world where you can leave everything behind.” 

The next chapter of Sentosa’s transformation is already underway. Over the next two decades, the Greater Sentosa Master Plan for Sentosa and Brani will add coastal and green walking trails, a waterfront promenade as well as upgraded beachfronts and more event spaces.

For now, there is plenty to keep visitors excited. 

Food festival Sentosa GrillFest returns for its ninth edition this year, bringing diverse culinary concepts and unique beachside dining to Siloso Beach. For nature lovers, Sentosa Nature Discovery (previously the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom) offers a look at the island’s biodiversity and conservation efforts, including the Swiftlet Bunker – a World War II replica that is now home to Singapore’s largest known colony of the edible-nest and black-nest swiftlets.

As Sentosa continues to remake itself, Asmah hopes the island remains special to future generations, just as it has been for her. 

“Sentosa is like home to me. Even when I retire, I hope my children and grandchildren will continue to feel proud of it and make their own memories here.” 

A first look at Sentosa’s next chapter

Under the Greater Sentosa Master Plan, Sentosa and Brani will be progressively transformed into Singapore’s island playground and sanctuary in a global city. It will build on what Singaporeans already love about the island while creating new spaces and experiences for future generations.

Visitors can look forward to a more connected, immersive and nature-rich Sentosa, with plans for a next-generation transport network, enhanced beachfronts, more event spaces, and new green and coastal walking trails. Other highlights include Imbiah Canopy, a new treetop destination atop Mount Imbiah that leads visitors to Sentosa’s heritage buildings and nature trails. 

Starting July 3, get a first look at this future vision at ‘Your Island. Reimagined’, a public exhibition featuring seven interactive and immersive zones with AI-enabled experiences, quizzes and co-creation opportunities. 

The exhibition will run at these locations:

• VivoCity: July 3 to 5

• Our Tampines Hub: July 22 to 27

• Jurong Point: Aug 19 to 23

• Waterway Point: Sep 23 to 27

Visit this page for more information.