Universal Studios is set toopen its largest theme park in Asia after Infinity@The Bay, a joint venture betweenGenting International and Star Cruises, clinched the bid for the project todevelop an integrated resort on Sentosa island in Singapore.

To be located on the eastside of the site, the Universal Studios Singapore Theme Park will be an anchor attraction of the project. With a'Ride the Movies' theme, it will be divided into seven themed worlds, includingWaterworld, Lost World, Egypt, Super Hero City, Back Lot-The Big Apple,Hollywood Boulevard and Cartoon Studios.

The theme park will boast 22attractions of which 16 will be specially designed for Singapore. Major highlights include the all-new 'Journey to Madagascar' attraction and the Dreamworks Digital AnimationStudios which allow visitors to learn the magic of CG imagery.

Genting, a gaming and resortoperator in Malaysia and Australia, will invest $3.4bn (S$5.2bn) in the whole projectwhich will also feature three other water-themed attractions, six hotels aswell as meeting and incentive facilities.

"Genting and Star Cruisessubmitted the most compelling proposal overall that best meets our economic andtourism objectives," said Singapore deputy prime minister S Jayakumar at a pressconference.

The project, expected tocomplete by 2010, is the second of two integrated resorts with casinosdeveloped to boost tourism in Singapore.

During the bidding for thefirst integrated resort project, US director James Cameron was roped in by the Harrah's-Keppel Landconsortium, but the project was eventually awarded to Las Vegas Sands in Maythis year.