MANILA, Philippines – The country’s gaming mecca could see visitor arrivals rise by double-digit this year as infrastructure improvements in recent years finally benefit the area, according to Melco Crown Philippines.
Without citing figures, Melco chair and president Clarence Chung said the Entertainment City in Parañaque is enjoying good reception from guests, thanks to roads being built around the area.
“I am optimistic in the way the Philippines is going to be a tourism destination,” Chung said in an interview.
“In fact, with the continuing new developments, I think more tourists will go to the Philippines, and with the infrastructure being built, I’m sure that tourism will be improving and increasing,” he said.
Melco is the owner and operator of City of Dreams Manila located inside the Entertainment City complex.
The complex, according to Chung, is enjoying better accessibility from visitors through the Skyway and the newly opened Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway.
In 2015, total revenues and overall market share of all the integrated resorts in the area grew by a quarter, and he said further growth is likely with the opening of Okada Manila before the end of 2016.
“We think when Okada Manila opens, there should be additional growth potential to the market,” he said.
Okada Manila, which is set to open before year-end, is a partnership between Okada and Filipino businessman Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco. It is the third integrated casino resort that will open in Entertainment City after port tycoon Enrique Razon’s Solaire and Casino and Melco Crown’s City of Dreams.
Okada Manila president Steve Wolstenholme said the integrated resort, with its world-class features and diverse entertainment facilities, would attract both local and international travelers to look at Manila as a destination of choice for tourism and entertainment.
The resort is seen to complement its neighboring integrated resorts to make Entertainment City at par with other entertainment hotspots in the world.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways also vowed the completion of the last segment of the P20.45 billion NAIA Expressway before the Christmas season.
This segment would connect NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to the South Luzon Expressway.