Baluarte Granada: Boljo-on’s new haven for tourists

An exclusive and upscale resort will open in the next few months providing a complete water sports and in-land leisure facilities, with internationally-at-par accommodation in the southern town of Boljo-on, Cebu.

Stu and Anne Gould invested about P30 million to develop their 2.5 hectare property in the town.

The entire facility is targeted to be operational in August of this year.

Initially, the Baluarte Granada Beach Resort will offer eight luxury suites, which will primarily target European, and other foreign tourists, as well as the domestic visitors.

“We will provide complete creational facilities within the resort, like diving clinic, snorkeling, sailing, bowling, spa, jacuzzi, nature trek, painting activities and others,” British national Stu Gould said in an interview over the weekend.

He said he would develop more facilities that could give leisure activities to guests, in both water and in-land resort events.

For the resorts’ dive and fishing service, for instance, he said guests can go to other dive and fishing spots in the Visayas, like in Balicasag Island, in Bohol, which can be reached in an hour and 30 minutes travel via pump boat.

Stu, who is married to Anne “Baby” Alesna-Gould is a sports enthusiasts and a professional diver, believes in the huge tourism potential in Cebu, especially in the provincial towns, like the “charming” Boljo-on.

He said, the Boljo-on channel is one of the best sites for diving in the Visayas, this has to be highlighted well, via providing facilities that could attract domestic and foreign diver enthusiasts to take advantage of this resources.

He believes that Cebu’s rich marine resources and good tropical temperature could lure foreign tourists to enjoy the beach, significantly the diving attraction.

“The Philippines is a beautiful place, one can dive 365 days a year,” the British national said.

The couple’s children, who are based in different countries, are the number one marketing agents for their family-owned resort here, said Anne Gould.

Their eldest Amy is based in Australia, while second daughter Samantha is a financial analyst at Wall Street in New York; Jacky and Chad are based in London.

According to the Goulds, their children had been bringing friends to their place in Boljo-on, one of the reasons why they decided to invest on a quality resort accommodation.

“We want to offer quality [in service, accommodation, facilities],” said Stu.

The couple had been based in Boljo-on for over four years now, and built a resort residence, 200 meters away from the Baluarte Granada Beach Resort.

In the future, the couple plans to offer additional accommodation by building a number of self-contained villas around the vicinity, in addition to the eight luxury suites.

“We would like to give a taste of ‘Tuscany’ experience in Cebu,” the couple said.