Changi Airport of Singapore has literally added a sparkling jewel in its crown! Well, we are talking about the latest addition at the airport, ‘Jewel’ which is an engineering marvel spread over 135,700 sqm complex built on the site of the former Terminal 1 open air carpark.
The main attraction at the Jewel is a ‘HSBC Rain Vortex’ which is the world's tallest indoor waterfall. It is a spectacular sight with 10,000 gallons of water rushing through roof per minute.
The entire structure is a distinctive dome shaped façade made of glass and steel which blends gardens, attractions activity areas, retail, dining and much more.
Costing some SGD1.7 billion (USD 1.3 billion), Jewel is designed by world-renowned Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. He also designed the iconic Marina Bay Sands triple tower structure, a fixture on Singapore's cityscape which all visitors to the island make it a point to photograph.
The building of Jewel is integrated into Terminal 1 and connected to Terminal 2 and 3 via walkways, and travellators with a light rail system connecting Terminals 2 and 3 via Terminal 1.
The building also harbours a lush green sanctuary that is the Shiseido Forest Valley. Accessible from every level, the tranquil retreat is a reminder of Singapore and a garden city even before a traveller steps out of the airport.
The Indoor Forest has over 120 species of plants including ferns and orchids. There are also curated plants and two olive trees from Spain which are each more than 100 years old. Canopy Park which is at the top level of the garden features more gardens and leisure facilities.
The Jewel is spread over an area of 135,700 sqm complex and built on the site of the former Terminal 1 open-air carpark. Within the 10-storey building (with 5 levels underground), are more than 280 shops and food and beverage (F & B) outlets.
Shake Shack, a fast-growing and popular high-end fast food burger joint is opening its first restaurant in South East Asia in Jewel Changi Airport. Also here is the first Pokemon Centre outside of Japan, where shoppers have thousands of merchandise to choose from.
There is also an eleven-screen cineplex featuring the latest IMAX Laser cinema hall.
As part of Changi Airport’s continued focus on providing passenger convenience, airport facilities have also been added in Jewel. These include early check-in counters and kiosks, a baggage storage service and the Changi Lounge, a 150-seat lounge with shower facilities, offering seamless transfers for passengers connecting to and from cruise and ferry services.
Jewel also house the first YOTELAIR property in Asia. With 130 smartly-designed cabins that optimise space in its Premium, Accessible and Family cabins, these rooms can be booked for a minimum of four hours, ideal for short daytime layovers or overnight stays. YOTELAIR also features time-saving airline style self-check-in kiosks that will facilitate a hassle-free check-in process.
“The vision for Jewel Changi Airport is to be a destination where ‘The World meets Singapore, and Singapore meets the World’. The unique proposition of world-class shopping and dining, seamlessly integrated with lush greenery, fulfils the needs of increasingly discerning travellers for a meaningful and experiential journey, even for brief layovers,” said Hung Jean, Chief Executive Officer, Jewel Changi Airport.
“Moreover, by providing innovative and fresh experiences for Singapore residents and working professionals in its vicinity, Jewel will invigorate Singapore’s eastern precincts and provide more opportunities for the public to enjoy time with family and friends,” he added.
Notably, the vision for Jewel is to be a distinctive world-class lifestyle destination that will be a game changer for Changi Airport to keep it ahead of its rivals amidst intensifying global competition.
Tourist arrivals to Singapore have been steadily climbing. In 2018, about 18.5 million tourists arrived in Singapore compared with 15 million 5 years ago. This is an increase of over 23 per cent with a compounded annual growth rate of about 4.5 per cent.
During the same period, Indian tourists coming to Singapore has grown at an explosive rate of almost 50 per cent. Arrivals in 2014 were about 943,000 and in 2018 it was more than 1.4 million.
Indians form the third largest group of tourists coming to Singapore up from fifth position five years ago.