Singapore - The developer of the multi-billion dollar Resorts World at Singapore's Sentosa island on Thursday said it will have a soft opening early in 2010, but it has scaled down the expected number of visitors due to the global recession.

"We will open early 2010," said executive vice president of projects Michael Chin. "The target is first quarter 2010."

The integrated Resorts World at Sentosa, which includes South-East Asia's first Universal Studio theme park, a casino, the Marine Life Park and six hotels with a total of about 1,800 rooms, was originally expected to attract 15 million visitors in its first year of operation.

But with the worldwide economic downturn the resort developers now expect 12-13 million visitors in 2010, said spokeswoman Krist Boo.

The project, with a total investment of 6.59 billion Singapore dollars (4.32 billion US dollars), is being developed by Genting International, the overseas investment arm of Malaysia's Genting Group, which operates resorts in different parts of the world.

Resorts World at Sentosa will become the second casino in the city-state. The first was awarded to Las Vegas Sands for its multi-billion dollar Marina Bay Sands, a triple tower with convention and entertainment facilities in the heart of Singapore's financial district.

Marina Bay Sands, costing an estimated 5.5 billion US dollars, is scheduled to open in December.

For Resort Worlds at Sentosa, about 60 per cent of the 49-hectare resort will start operation with the soft opening, with the Marine Life Park and some of the hotels opening later, Michael Chin said. (dpa)