China tourists in recent years made more than hundred millions man trips and spent over usd 300b annually, a lot on shopping luxurious items that are cheaper overseas.
FC also target the prc needs to shop for cheaper luxurious items. FC just need to capture a small chunk of this market.
Mind you usd 300b is about Singapore's reported accumulated reserve over 50 years.
"In the last four quarters of data, tourism imports were around $320 billion. The corresponding deficit rose from $75 billion in 2013 to over $200 billion in the last four quarters of data according to China Customs and state administration of forex exchange."
This is what I found out at Forest City this afternoon.
1. Harbour Commercial Street is not just street but a 3 storey shopping complex. Stillrenovating but many shops had opened.
2. First phase of Forest City consisting of 14 blocks of condominium has been fully sold out. Now they are launching phase 2.
3. Shattuck St Mary International School had signed up.
4. The developer really do things on a mega scale. I think there are at least 50 sales personnel there.
5. I talked to some of the sales personnel and found out they are from China. So can assume PRC is their main target.
6. PRC bought mainly for the future of their children education. Ratiowise is 60% PRC and rest from other nationalities.
7. Average selling price is between RM1200 psf to 1600psf depending on level and facing direction.
8. There would be a Malaysian CIQ direct from Tuas to Forest City through a linkway as well as a Marine CIQ.
9. The Hotel is fully operational.
10. The showrooms are designed by a Singapore ID firm but all interior finishing are from China. Quite nice finishing.