Pagcor’s Entertainment City Project to Put RP In World Tourism Map – PTAA

Press Release
April 11, 2012

MANILA  –  Philippine travel and tourism operators are looking forward to the PAGCOR-initiated Entertainment City, Asia’s multi-billion Las Vegas-like gaming and entertainment complex, to spark international and domestic tourism in the country.

Ms. Aileen Clemente, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), said the US$ 5 billion Entertainment City project of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation will also generate huge employment opportunities for tourism, travel, hotel, food and related industries.

“This will also spur domestic tourism and generate huge employment following the rise of several world-class, landmark establishments,” said Clemente, head of the umbrella organization which represents the country’s travel sector in various international and national associations.

PTAA is an organization of the national associations of outbound travel agencies and inbound travel operators sitting in the tourism councils of the local government units.

Clemente called on all sectors of society to support the project being spearheaded by Pagcor Chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. – with the help of local and foreign investors – as Clemente noted that the estimated one million annual tourists’ arrivals to be generated by Pagcor’s mix hotel, gaming and entertainment complex will result in significant increase in foreign gross receipts.

Clemente stressed the PAGCOR project will be a big contribution to the country’s tourism industry. It will draw foreigners’ attention to the Philippines.

She said it will put the country in the international map, and will create a huge publicity globally, and eventually attract people from abroad to come and see the Philippines, and have fun in the country.

She noted that the project will generate awareness in the minds of foreign travelers that there is more fun going to the Philippines than in other Asian countries because we have many beautiful places to offer aside from the Filipino hospitality.

However, Clemente said the government should ensure that gambling should not be made the ‘focus’ of our offer to tourists.

Gambling can only be one of the elements of entertainment that we are giving tourists in this new PAGCOR endeavor,” noted Clemente.

For local gambling enthusiasts, she said the government should set some parameters to play in the casino like granting of a permit to gamble, or giving them limited access with the issuance of Identification cards.

“So they can show their ID and pay certain amount if they want to play in the casino in the Entertainment City. We can take a look at the Singapore model in running this,” she observed.

Earlier, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez expressed optimism that PAGCOR’s multi-billion Entertainment City project will make the country “more fun” to visit and help DOT achieve its targeted 10 million annual tourist visits by 2016.

Jimenez said the mixed-use entertainment complex, which is expected to attract at least one million tourists yearly once it becomes fully operational, will complement the DOT’s programs under the slogan: “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

“Any development that involves attracting tourists is beneficial to our program to boost the tourism sector. Pagcor’s Entertainment City will be beneficial to Philippine tourism,” Jimenez said.

“Gaming is only one part of the Entertainment City. It will also attract the families of players. There will be a comprehensive package, which includes tourist sites in the City of Manila and other nearby environs,” he added.

Pagcor’s Las Vegas-style facility is expected to generate $10 billion annually in gaming revenues alone, of which 25 percent or about US$ 2.5 billion will go to the government.

“The Entertainment City will have a big impact on our tourism industry,” Jimenez added.

Jimenez also noted that Chairman Naguiat is on top of the situation in so far as accusations of impropriety hurled against him by casino magnate Steve Wynn are concerned.

Jimenez said Wynn’s accusations “will not have a major impact” on the Entertainment City’s tourism potential.