Real estate giant seen to boost Cebu tourism

CEBU, Philippines - The ongoing developments in the 28.8-hectare Mactan Newtown will help boost Cebu's tourism industry, Megaworld Corporation said Thursday as it also announced additional projects for the township.

The Newtown is seen to be the major tourism center in Cebu as it will cater to both domestic and foreign visitors, said Noli D. Hernandez, president of Megaworld Cebu Properties, Inc.

The company is spending P8 billion to build five luxury and beachfront hotels in the township.

Within five years, two high-rise hotels,Mactan Belmont Luxury Hotel and the Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, will be located along the Newtown Boulevard.

Another two beachfront hotels will rise in the area, which was previously Portofino Beach Resort, and another international brand luxury hotel is expected to be built in the township.

"The tourist market in Cebu really is growing," said Carmen Fernando, managing director of Prestige Hotels and Resorts, Inc., adding that facilities in the township will both benefit local and foreign tourists.

Moreover, the real estate giant is also building a three-level mall, the Plaza Magellan which is expected to become the Newtown's major attraction. Its entrance will face the well-known Lapu-Lapu Shrine.

The mall will house the Spanish Galleon Victoria, the model of the first boat that Magellan and his men used to go around the globe. It will also feature the Spanish Steps which will lead visitors to the entrance.

A dedicated museum to Magellan's life and trips will also be situated in the Plaza.

"Plaza Magellan will be an iconic landmark not just for The Mactan Newtown but also for the entire Central Visayas region," Hernandez said in a press conference, adding they are already talking with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on adding this landmark to the Mactan Shrine.

He also said the company is ready to help the local government to improve the historic national shrine.

Megaworld will also develop near the township's main entrance the Hawkers' Gazebo, a food strip like that of Singapore's famous hawkers.

The president cited date from the Tourism Department that Mactan Island had 900,000 tourists in 2013, 75 percent of which flew from 63 different countries.

The property giant is spending P30 billion to develop the whole township in the next five to seven years.

The additional office towers it is building will soon generate an estimated 45,000 jobs for information technology and business process outsourcing sectors.  (FREEMAN)