Sentosa’s Rise, Fall and Rebound: How the Island Is Finding its Feet After the Pandemic

Once bustling before COVID-19, Sentosa is now rebuilding its crowds through new attractions and an island-wide revamp.

British tourists, Brian (left) and Paul (right), smiling for a shot at the entrance of Palawan Beach on 1 December 2025. (Photo credits: Odelia Desiree Wee)

When British tourists Mr Brian Wright and Mr Paul Thomas arrived in Sentosa, the heat hit them first but the view came a close second.

For him, who last visited Sentosa two decades ago, the transformation was startling. “(There were) very few attractions, only one cable car,” This mirrors how Sentosa has grown from a quiet island, stumbled, and rebuilt since its opening in 1972.

It’s just a different world to where I came from,

Brian, looking out toward Palawan Beach in Sentosa

Sentosa’s journey has long been shaped by its ability to attract visitors.

Chart: Odelia Desiree Wee

According to Sentosa Development Corportation, back in the 1980s, the island had 1.6 to 1.7 million visitors yearly, far behind today’s tourism figures.

The numbers began to climb substantially in the early 2000s, reaching 7.8 million visitors in 2009.

The turning point came in 2010, when Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) officially opened. The effect was immediate. According to Mr Joshua Loh, course chair of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Tourism and Resort Mangement, Sentosa suddenly had world-recognised brands: Universal Studios Singapore, Marine Life Park, Adventure Cove Waterpark. “Prior to RWS, Sentosa lacked a recognisable brand-name attraction.” The arrival of these attractions didn’t merely boost numbers but shifted Sentosa’s identity.

The island continued to grow, with 20.5 million visitors in 2012, the highest figure yet. However, after COVID-19 struck, visitors dropped to 8.6 million in 2020.

Mr Caleb Lim, 24, a staff at S.E.A Aquarium – now known as Oceanarium – who worked there before and after the pandemic, found the contrast jarring. “Before COVID, we had four to six thousand guests on weekdays, maybe even more during the weekends. It was bustling and noisy, sometimes even overcrowded due to the narrow pathways,” he recalled. But once restrictions began, the aquarium shut down, then reopened under strict rules. “There were distancing stickers everywhere, safety distancing officers… Sentosa felt like a different place.”

Yet recovery has been steady. Sentosa welcomed 16.7 million visitors in 2023, a sign that the island is regaining its appeal even if it hasn’t yet reached its pre-pandemic highs. Mr Lim observed this firsthand. As borders reopened, crowds returned “slowly, gradually,” and within two years, large-scale events resumed. “We could open event spaces again… weddings, corporate events. The numbers are about the same now.”

This revival is supported by new attractions and expansions. Mr Loh highlighted SkyPark Sentosa by AJ Hackett, The Palawan @ Sentosa, and HyperDrive as key additions refreshing the island’s image. According to a press release from Sentosa, RWS is also undergoing a major redevelopment, also known as “RWS 2.0”, including new attractions and expansions to both Universal Studios and the Oceanarium.

For locals like Mr Lim, childhood memories and attractions keep them coming back, but high prices remain a barrier to frequent visits.

“Even with all the new upgrades, Sentosa still feels like the place where I grew up with,” Mr Lim said. “...I keep going back because it's a place filled with good memories”.