One of my favourite spots to walk past in Singapore is what my daughter calls the “red car house”. Nestled on a corner in one of Singapore’s richest neighbourhoods, the house in question is actually a grandiose mansion with at least six red Ferraris and Lamborghinis parked outside.
Owned by a wealthy local businessman, the house is well known in Singapore. It is so opulent that it features in a Crazy Rich Asians-inspired tour of the tiny, island city-state, based on the popular 2018 film.
The Hollywood hit was an invaluable marketing vehicle for Singapore and a gamble by its tourism board and film commission. Both threw their weight — and an undisclosed sum — behind the movie. The gamble paid off. After the film’s release, Singapore experienced a record number of tourists and enjoyed a wave of global attention.