Visitors ride on the roller coaster during the opening ceremony of Resorts World Sentosa, Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios movie theme park, in Singapore, March 18, 2010. The theme park is part of the 4.4 billion-US-dollar Resorts World Sentosa casino complex.

 

SINGAPORE, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Universal Studios Singapore, Southeast Asia's first and only Universal Studio theme park, opened its door to the public here on Thursday.

The theme park opening ceremony kicked off at 8: 28 a.m. on March 18, an auspicious starting time as the number "eight" represents prosperity in the Chinese culture. During the ceremony, 18 lion dancers entered the park via the "Streets of Hollywood," actresses dressing as Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop led the first group of guests into the park.

Greg Semon, an American who got the first season ticket to the theme park, said, "The Universal Studio Singapore maybe one of the smallest theme parks in the world, but it is very compact and a lot of fun."

Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, executive chairman of Resorts World Sentosa said, "This is the region's only Universal Studios theme park, and it will be a tourism crown jewel for not just Singapore, but Asia as a whole."

Expecting to attract 4.5 million tourists for the first year, Lim said that he's not worried about the competition with other theme parks around the world, as 18 of the 24 tourism spots here are specially designed for Singapore and cannot be found anywhere else.

Located within one of the world's most extensive tourism projects -- the 4.4 billion U.S. dollars Resorts World Sentosa -- Universal Studios Singapore brings to life the movie-themed attractions packed within seven zones such as Hollywood, Far Far Away kingdom, Sci-Fi City and the Lost World. The theme park also houses some 30 restaurants and 21 stalls.