Businessmen investing in new resorts – DOT

Businessmen are investing billions of pesos in constructing new first-class resorts and in expanding existing ones  to accommodate the rising number of foreign and domestic tourists, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said yesterday.

Speaking at the Manila Overseas Press Club’s “Tourism Night,” Durano said at least three high-class resorts in Palawan are adding new villas and suites as a part of their expansion programs.

These resorts are El Rio Y Mar Island Resort, a sister company of Club Paradise Resort in Coron; Amanpulo Resort on Pamalicalan Island, which is touted as the most expensive resort in the Philippines; and the Dos Palmas Island Resort and Spa on Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa, he added.

El Rio is reportedly building 80 new rooms while Dos Palmas is adding 88 new villas. 

No details, however, were given to the expansion plans of Amanpulo, which is luring rich foreign tourists and a number of wealthy Filipinos.

Durano said another upscale resort, Eskaya Beach
Resort and Spa, recently opened in Panglao Island in Bohol. He said investors have reportedly committed to invest nearly a billion pesos for the resort.

The 200-room Shangri La Boracay Resort & Spa will open in August 2008 while the Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa on Mactan Island, Cebu is scheduled to open in 2009, he added.

Investors have recently completed the Camiguin Highland Resort on an eight-hectare lanzones plantation, Durano said.

In Eastern Samar, a multimillion-dollar resort is being constructed on Calicoan Island, which is emerging as a surfing destination in the Visayas.

In Bicol,  Masibis Land is developing a first-class resort, with its own cable car, on Cagraray Island near Legazpi City.

Durano said these projects are part of the P160 billion in new hotel and resort investments that are underway.  The government expects more than three million foreign tourists this year, and about five million by 2010.

The tourism sector is contributing about $2.5 billion a year to the economy, he added.

In 2006, international tourism receipts from 2.84 million visitors to the Philippines totaled $2.7 billion or about P135 billion. Tourism receipts are expected to hit $4 billion this year with the influx of more long-staying and high-spending tourists such as the Europeans, Durano said.