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S’pore’s first dedicated wellness attraction to feature thermal pools, saunas and water slides
Published Nov 04, 2025, 11:35 AMUpdated Nov 04, 2025, 11:12 PM
An image render of Therme Singapore, a new wellness facility in Marina South. It is expected to draw around two million visitors annually at full capacity.
PHOTO: THERME SINGAPORE AND DP ARCHITECTS
Sarah Stanley
Summary
- Therme Group won a tender from STB to build a $1 billion wellness attraction in Marina South, Singapore, set to open by 2030 and attract two million visitors annually.
- The facility will feature thermal pools, saunas, steam baths and water slides, and target families, seniors and working adults.
- A New York Times report questioned Therme Group's finances and track record, but STB found no misrepresentation and Therme Group claims strong financial backing.
www.straitstimes.com
SINGAPORE – International developer and operator of wellness projects Therme Group has been awarded a tender by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to develop an upcoming wellness attraction in Marina South that is slated to open by 2030.
The $1 billion project will sit on 4ha of land next to Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay. It is expected to draw around two million visitors annually at full capacity, with around half from overseas.
In a statement on Nov 4, Therme Group said the project will “integrate thermal pools, lush botanical landscapes, world-class art installations and cutting-edge health technology under one roof”. It will cater to multiple demographics including families with children, seniors and working adults, and will also feature saunas, steam baths and water slides.
The wellness infrastructure will be developed in partnership with multinational architecture firm DP Architects and Therme Group’s in-house architecture practice and design company Therme Arc.
Therme Group stated in a press release that it has facilities located in Romanian capital Bucharest and Erding, located near Munich in Germany, with new developments under way in cities like Manchester, Frankfurt, Toronto and Dubai.
“We will partner local organisations and enterprises to activate the surrounding public spaces, and make this another jewel of Marina Bay – a world-class destination that draws visitors from the region and beyond, showcasing Singapore as a leader in holistic wellness,” said Mr Mah Bow Tan, chairman of Therme Group Asia and former Cabinet minister.
Submissions were first assessed on the quality of development concept and design, with shortlisted proposals then evaluated on price.
However, a New York Times investigation published in April reported that the group had finances that appeared to be “shaky”, and that it had exaggerated its track record in securing a deal with Ontario, Canada, for the construction of a wellness facility there.
For instance, the group had “falsely presented itself as an industry player that operated as many as half a dozen spas in Europe” when it had built and operated only one in Bucharest.
PHOTO: THERME SINGAPORE AND DP ARCHITECTS
In response to queries from The Straits Times, a Therme Group spokesperson said the company is “a well-capitalised international enterprise with over US$1 billion in support from respected institutional investors and third-party financing partners”.
“Our global projects continue to advance through their respective planning, design and construction stages. The Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Infrastructure had confirmed that Therme’s proposal met the required standards and passed the necessary evaluations,” said the spokesperson.
An STB spokesperson said: “Therme Group Singapore was selected following a comprehensive evaluation process that assessed all proposals against the published evaluation criteria. This included the development concept and how the design would complement the coastal site, the quality of physical infrastructure plans, complementarity to other surrounding developments in the precinct as well as track record and financial strength.”
Therme Group Singapore is part of Therme Group. The STB spokesperson added that the board found “no misrepresentation of track record in Therme Group Singapore’s submission for the tender for a wellness attraction at Marina South Coastal site”.
Ms Jean Ng, assistant chief executive of STB’s experience development group, said: “Our vision is to establish Singapore as a leading urban wellness haven through a world-class facility that offers transformative wellness experiences for visitors and locals alike.
“In line with our pursuit of quality tourism, this attraction will draw travellers seeking wellness experiences, potentially increasing length of stay and spend, while providing locals with best-in-class wellness experiences.”
The project will be Singapore’s first dedicated wellness attraction, and will support the nation’s goal of achieving $47 billion to $50 billion tourism receipts by 2040.
