Wednesday, September 26, 2007 City won't lose much without Korean casino By Carlo P. Mallo
DAVAO City will not lose much if the management of the Korean-operated casino at Apo View Hotel does not settle its differences with the City Government, Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Sonia V. Garcia said.
"Although the one at Apo View was specifically made to cater to Koreans and Chinese tourists, its closure would not greatly affect the city," Garcia said, pointing out that a bigger casino is at the Grand Regal Hotel.
Garcia admits that should the Korean management continue to buck local laws, closure is inevitable.
The casino at Apo View, which caters exclusively to Koreans, has earned the fury of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for the management's utter disregard of the smoking ban on public places in the city.
Garcia said DOT is fully supportive of the local government's move to enforce the anti-smoking ordinance. The landmark anti-smoking ordinance of Davao City aims to regulate smoking in public areas as it takes into consideration the adverse effects of second-hand smoke on the public.
Despite its strict implementation, such that even flight attendants on airlines continuously remind passengers concerning the ban, it is not being practiced at the for-Koreans-only casino at the Apo View Hotel.
What infuriated Duterte even more was when the casino management refused to allow an inspection team from the City Government to enter the casino on the precept that the casino is only for Koreans.
