Pagcor’s Entertainment City will make RP “more fun” for projected 10-M annual tourist visits - DOT Sec. Jimenez

Press Release
March 25, 2012

MANILA  –  The Department of Tourism (DOT) is optimistic that Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’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.

Tourism Secretary Ramon 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.

As this developed, Jimenez said Pagcor Chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. 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.

“The project is not personality-based and Chairman Naguiat has the situation well in hand,” the Tourism chief added.

Earlier, Malacañang said the counter-complaint of Japanese casino magnate Kazuo Okada clearing Pagcor officials of any wrongdoing bolsters Naguiat’s position that the accommodation he received last year in Macau was “industry practice” among casino operators.

“This certainly supports the position of chairman Naguiat that he did not do anything wrong,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

Okada denied that his firm, Universal Entertainment, did anything improper to obtain favors from Naguiat and other Pagcor officials in connection with plans to put up a $2 billion casino resort in the country.

Naguiat earlier said Entertainment City will make the country one of the world’s leading gambling destinations, thus resulting in a huge “trickle down” effect to the Filipino people, most especially the poor being helped by Pagcor. Pagcor currently finances many of the government’s social, civic, educational; and environmental projects and programs.

Bureau of Treasury data showed that Pagcor has remitted P11.437 billion to the national government last year, exceeding expectations. BOT said the P11.437 billion signifies a 4.5% over the projections of the Department of Finance.

The increase is also 10.5% higher than Pagcor's remittance of P10.343 billion in 2010.

Naguiat attributed the growth in income to the improved gaming mix in casinos and enhanced marketing and gaming offerings of its casinos.