Genting Singapore Plc unit Resorts World Sentosa said it plans to begin a phased opening of its casino project in Singapore on Jan 20.

The casino resort will start taking room and restaurant reservations for its first four hotels Jan 11, the company said in a statement e-mailed today. The casino will be opened once the company gets its casino license, it said.

Resorts World is opening its hotels after visitor arrivals in the city-state jumped 8.4% in November, the most in three years.

The Singapore Tourism Board said Oct 12 that visitor arrivals were still forecast to reach 17 million annually by 2015, as the region overcomes an economic slowdown and health scares such as the spread of H1N1 flu.