THE Belmont Group is earmarking P500 million to build Belmont One, an integrated commercial complex located in Minglanilla. It will be the Lim family’s biggest venture in 45 years.
With a solid track record in the general hardware business since 1973, the Lims are joining other local investors in putting up infrastructure that will rev up Cebu’s tourism activities as well as economic activities outside the capital.
It will put up Belmont One, an integrated development that features restaurants, retail and shopping centers, a hotel and a theme park—Anjo World and Snow World—in a 3.5 hectare prime property along Calajoan, Cebu South Road, Minglanilla.
This five-year-in-the-making project will open at least 500 new jobs and generate new income revenue streams for the municipality of Minglanilla, said Chester Lim, president of Belmont One.
“We are building a complex that will bring people together,” he said.
Belmont One is positioned as the first integrated family entertainment complex in the Visayas and Mindanao. The group expects a million visitors during the first year of its operations.
Belmont One commenced construction last Tuesday.
According to Lim, they will do their best to open 10 out of 12 rides of Anjo World and Snow World by December, in time for the Christmas season.
They will likewise open some of the retail and food park segments of the project before the end of this year.
Anjo World is a member of IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions). It feature rides like a 25-meter tower drop, a 60-meter fully air-conditioned ferris wheel, which will be the second tallest after one in Pampanga, giant frisbee, space shuttle, and other kiddie rides and skill games.
Snow World, on the other hand, is a -15 degree Celsius indoor theme park that provides the public a winter experience in this side of the country. It will feature ice slides and ice sculptures, among other activities. Snow World can accommodate some 500 people at a time.
Lim said the other segments of the project will open either in the first or second quarter of 2019. This includes the 60-room hotel with 500 seating capacity function room.
Belmont One will also house the family’s biggest Belmont Hardware Depot at 2,500 square meters and Robinsons Supermarket.
While a new player in this venture, Lim said they are confident the project will be well accepted by the Cebuanos as the province enjoys a booming middle-income class and high arrivals of both local and foreign tourists.
“We’ve seen locals going around what’s new in Cebu even if they are located in far places. So we are confident that there is a ready market for this new tourism offering,” said Lim.
The amusement park is being eyed to operate from 10 a.m. to 10. p.m.
Lim said they haven’t decided on the ticket price yet, but he assured it would not hurt one’s pocket much.
Meanwhile, Department of Tourism 7 Regional Director Shalimar Tamano welcomed the family’s venture, saying this would help them market Cebu with a new angle and make the province more attractive to all types of tourists.