Bluewater expands to Bohol

BOHOL—In response to growth in the tourism industry, Cebu-based Bluewater Resorts has expanded its resort business after it acquired a 5.5-hectare property in Barangay Danao, Panglao Island, Bohol.

The property will be developed into a luxury beach resort using an initial investment of P500 million.

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Panglao Bluewater Beach Resorts is the third development of Almont Hotels and Resorts Corp. (AHRC), owner of the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort in Mactan Island, Cebu and Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort in Sumilon Island, Cebu.

“The expansion of the business is brought about by the good tourism industry in the country, particularly in Bohol,” AHRC president Julie Alegrado-Vergara said in a press briefing yesterday.

Target: Early 2011

An initial investment of P250 million was set aside for the development of the resort’s first phase. It will house 54 rooms, a swimming pool and a restaurant. Its target completion is set in the first quarter of next year.

While completion of the entire resort will depend on the market’s feedback, Vergara said the company hopes to complete the development of the resort after three years.

The second phase of the resort will feature amenities like meeting rooms designed to tap the business market. “We also want to position the resort not only as a vacation destination but also an avenue where people can hold conventions,” Vergara added.

Rhyz Buac, general manager of Maribago Bluewater Resorts and vice president for operations, added the development is not only to provide more rooms for the growing number of tourist arrivals in Bohol, but also provide jobs for locals.

Construction of the first phase of the resort, Buac added, will employ and train more than a hundred locals.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said tourism investments like this help promote Bohol as one of the country’s premier tourist destinations.

“Expansions of local resorts are good for the industry, as these help build confidence among investors and help boost growth in the tourism industry,” he said.

Bohol was one of the country’s top tourism destinations last year, attracting 313,317 tourists, the tourism department recently reported.

The figure showed a 10 percent increase from 2008 in tourist arrivals to the Central Visayas province.