Sentosa’s latest attraction SkyHelix, billed as the highest open-air panoramic ride in Singapore, will open at Imbiah Lookout on December 15.
The opening is a few months ahead of schedule, in time for the school holidays and year-end celebrations, said operator Mount Faber Leisure Group (MFLG).
Standing at 40m tall, SkyHelix features a vertical helix-like structure. During the ride, guests will be seated in an open-air rotating gondola, which ascends 35m above the ground to a height of 79m above sea level.
The 12-minute ride includes 10 minutes rotating at the peak. With a drink in hand, guests will be able to enjoy panoramic views of Sentosa, the Keppel Bay area, and the Greater Southern Waterfront.
As an added safety measure, an attraction host will accompany guests on the ride to ensure safety protocols are followed.
Adult tickets cost S$18 (US$13.30), while child tickets – over 1.05m – cost S$15. All tickets come with a choice of one standard non-alcoholic beverage (soft drink or slushie) or a SkyHelix Sentosa souvenir. Alcoholic beverages and snacks are subject to additional pricing.
The ride is open only to vaccinated guests and accompanying children under 12 years old.
Designed and constructed by French company Aerophile, an expert on high-point attractions, the SkyHelix will be powered by three electrical winches that are managed on ground, and include emergency brakes and a safety mechanism.
When asked about the attraction’s sustainable aspects, Buhdy Bok, managing director at MFLG, revealed that SkyHelix’s projected carbon footprint for a whole year – 365 days for up to 12 hours a day, and carrying a projected 100,000 guests – would be “equivalent to one flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur”.
To achieve carbon neutrality, mitigation methods will be deployed, where renewable energy, such as the installation of solar panels to reduce energy consumption, will be looked into, added Favian Ooi, MFLG’s director, operations and asset development.
Bok noted: “As Singapore eyes a long-term goal recovery of its tourism sector, the opening of SkyHelix Sentosa signals a strong message of hope and optimism for the industry and the country.”
He told TTG Asia that vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs) will help attract tourists back to Singapore, and every established VTL “is a positive sign which will go a long way in supporting travel and tourism recovery”.
“We have seen the VTL daily quota steadily increase from 2,500 to 6,000. While it is yet to be determined how many of these VTL travellers are tourists, on November 10, CAAS (Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore) reported encouraging figures especially from Australia and South Korea and this sends a positive message that VTLs are impactful for tourism recovery,” he elaborated.
Thien Kwee Eng, CEO of Sentosa Development Corporation, added that SkyHelix joins a pipeline of new and upcoming Sentosa experiences, including wellness experiences at Oasia Resort Sentosa; a perfumery experience at Scentopia; as well as the island’s new lifestyle destination, Southside; among others.
She said: “We look forward to welcoming more guests to Sentosa, as we bolster our position as Asia’s leading leisure destination.”
