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Thu 07 Dec, 2006
Party central on Sentosa
ZoukOut makes waves as more foreigners join local revellers to get jiggy
By Frankie
Chee
EXPECT more than a third of the turnout at this year's ZoukOut to come from overseas.
Last year, about 6,000 of the record 18,000 people who attended the beach party came from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and even the United States and Britain.
Ms Tracy Philips, marketing manager for organiser Zouk, predicts the foreign attendance to rise along with the increase in total crowd number - which has been the trend over the years.
This year's event, with a line-up including international DJs and bands, will be held on Siloso Beach at Sentosa on Saturday.
The event, which began in 2000, saw 9,000 revellers in its first year.
Interest has been fanned by a growing awareness of the party, generated by faithful followers, word of mouth, and an effort by the organiser to reach out to the foreign market since 2003 through advertising and promotional activities.
This year, Zouk has a tie-up with Jetstar Asia, offering promotional packages from Thailand.
The deal includes two nights' accommodation at New Park Hotel and tickets to ZoukOut for 5,900 baht (S$255), not including taxes.
Zouk has also received support from the Singapore Tourism Board, which has helped disseminate press releases through its overseas offices.
The upshot of this publicity drive is that some party folks from abroad - Brian Chow, a 36-year-old publisher from Hong Kong is one - have become regulars.
Mr Chow, who has attended four ZoukOuts so far, including last year's, will be flying in with some friends. The three-night trip will cost him about HK$40,000 (S$7,922), he says.
What keeps him coming back?
'The music. They always manage to get the best DJs, plus the environment and the whole atmosphere is just great,' says Mr Chow, who initially got to know about the event through international magazines.
Even DJs themselves are attracted. Anton Wirjono, a DJ-promoter in Jakarta, will be flying in to check out Belgian act 2ManyDJs and American DJs Jazzy Jeff and Kerri Chandler.
He was at last year's event too and will be spending about US$500 (S$768) on airfare and accommodation for a four-night stay this time. Ten to 15 of his friends will also be coming in from Jakarta.
Wirjono, 36, says ZoukOut receives a lot of publicity in Jakarta, where it is mentioned in club websites and lifestyle magazines.
The budget for this year's bash is $1.5 million, up from last year's $1.2 million. The money will pay for eight international DJs like Ferry Corsten, Ben Sims and Jazzy Jeff.
Local bands such as Electrico and Plain Sunset will also get the groove going, together with foreign ones like Australia's Stars Don't Fall, Bangkok-based Futon and The Cuban Brothers from Britain.
To keep the crowd happy till 8am, when the party ends, are four game stations, 14 food outlets and distractions like drumming lessons and massage.
Still, one question will be upper-most in the minds of many people - will getting in and out of Sentosa be smooth or a nightmare?
'It took an hour to take the shuttle bus to Sentosa and another two hours to reach home,' says Mr Jason Wong, 34, a project manager who was at last year's rain-washed event. 'The event was okay, but the transport hassle is something I'd rather not go through again.'
The organisers are taking steps to reduce such frustration. There will be two entrances instead of one, about 450 staff - 100 more than last year - will be working, and more shuttle buses have been chartered.
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