P2.4B tourist establishments to be constructed in Boracay, Puerto Galera

MANILA -- Two new establishments, including a five-star hotel, worth P2.4 billion, are expected to rise in two major tourist destinations in the Philippines as the Board of Investments (BOI) has given its approval for their construction, the Trade department said.

The BOI has approved the applications of Boracay Seascapes Resort, Inc. for the construction of a five-star resort hotel in Boracay, Aklan, and the Talipanan Infinity Paradise Resort, Inc. for the establishment of a triple A class resort in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

Boracay Seascapes Resort, Inc. will construct the Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay. The project is approximately more than P2 billion investments and is situated on a 2.9-hectare land in Barangay Yapak, Boracay. The hotel will have almost 200 guest rooms, banquet facilities, several food and beverage outlets, kid’s club, swimming pool, game room, water sports facilities, gym, spa, chapel, and salon. The ground breaking is targeted during the first quarter of 2013 and commercial operations are targeted at latest in December 2017. The manpower complement is approximately 285.

The FDC Hotels Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), is the majority owner of Boracay Seascapes Resort, Inc. FDC through affiliated companies, owns and/or manages three other hotel properties namely Crimson Resort & Spa, Mactan, Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila and Quest Hotel & Conference Center in Cebu.

Talipanan Infinity Paradise Resort, Inc. will be establishing a 70-room resort located in Talipanan, Poblacion in Puerto Galera called the Talipanan Infinity Paradise Resort. The project, with a total project cost of P 419.3 million, will begin operations in December 2013 with a complement of 88 personnel.

With the marked increase in tourism projects, the government is confident that it could generate more than seven million tourism-generated jobs and achieve 10 million tourist arrivals by 2016, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. These targets are based on the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP). (SDR/Sunnex)