Phl to become a center of gaming industry

News and stories have been spreading for the better part of a year, or more about the country developing a gambling strip in the reclaimed area in Manila, similar if not better, to the famous strip of gambling capital Las Vegas. In fact, many people in Asia (myself included) already feel that Macau has surpassed Las Vegas in attracting high rollers from neighboring China, Japan, and some parts of Europe and the Middle East. These are the gamblers who bring their wealth to Macau now as it is closer for most and is strictly for gambling without the frills and fluff of Nevada (and the sometimes strict visa requirements as well). Macau attracts serious gamblers who come strictly for the game.

In a few years, maybe a decade, Macau and Singapore might be facing stiff competition from the Philippines in terms of gaming and entertainment when Entertainment City is completed. Not only will the actual strip be appealing to travelers but also the fact that the Philippines is an English speaking and highly educated nation with a democratic government patterned after the US. All of these combined are going be good reasons to entice gamers and their families to opt for the Philippines when selecting a travel destination.

A local newspaper published last week “there is a casino building boom rolling across Asia.” There are glitzy and glamorous casinos and hotels being built, or planning to be built, all over Asia in an attempt to copy the success of Macau, which ended the Asian casino monopoly in Singapore. In Singapore alone the city-state’s casinos brought in an estimated $6 billion a year after they first opened. It seems Macau has successfully bit into that pie and other Asian nations are trying to follow suit. It just goes to show that even in economic hard times, or maybe especially in hard times, people search for distractions and ways to entertain themselves, and gaming is a popular choice to do just that.

It’s interesting to note that nations like Singapore, that have previously frowned on gaming and gambling, have finally come to the realization that they can no longer be isolated. They did not used to allow casinos to operate there and now they’ve come to realize what a big money maker they can be. They’ve also embraced their tourism with world-class shows and theme parks like Marina Bay Sands and Universal Studios, both popular Asian destinations for families and theme park aficionados. It gives Asians a place closer to home to experience the fun theme parks of the US. Plus, at Marina Bay Sands there are world class shopping options, luxury brands, and delicious award winning restaurants. Plus seasonally, they showcase international Broadway caliber shows like Wicked and A Chorus Line. It’s truly obvious that Singapore is embracing its tourism and the money it brings into the country.

Other countries are following suit. In Malaysia they have just launched their new theme park attraction, Legoland. Situated in Johor, Malaysia it is also close to Singapore (you can get there by land) and will be another reason families flock to either of the two countries. Legoland was made popular in the United States as a theme park all about children’s (and several adults) favorite toy: Lego. There are rides, exhibits, and play areas all made from Lego. My daughter and her family have already expressed their interest to go and it only opened just this September 1st.

Tourism and entertainment truly is a powerful tool in promoting a country and inviting foreign investment. Having must-see attractions are a sure way to get foreign visitors to come and spend their money in the country. Here in the Philippines we are also beginning to get on the gaming and entertainment bandwagon. With Entertainment City set to break ground and, maybe, Disneyland in Clark in the future, the Philippines is sure to become a strong destination in Asia. All of these coupled with good shopping, our famous beaches, and our friendly and accommodating people will surely push us over the edge when it comes to foreigners selecting their vacation destination.

In my opinion there is really nowhere to go but up in terms of the plans to build these tourist attractions. Granted there will be opposition, but that is only normal when it comes to change. The church has already expressed its concerns over the $4 billion Manila Bay casino project claiming gambling is a vice that leads to many sins. While I am a devout Catholic, I also believe that people should be given the right to choose for themselves. It’s true that gambling can cause a lot of problems if done in excess, but moderation has to be the key. We can’t deprive ourselves of the opportunity to have world-class gaming and entertainment facilities simply because we fear the spiritual problems it “might” cause. We also have to keep in mind the investment building capabilities this presents for our country. Not to mention the 40,000 or so jobs this will generate for our countrymen.

That is actually another plus point we have when it comes to building up tourism attractions for the Philippines. We have all the manpower and talent we need right on our shores. So many of our artists, dancers, actors, and hotel and restaurant management students and professionals have opted to leave the Philippines to pursue their careers abroad for lack of opportunities here. I recall visiting Disneyland Hong Kong with my family, and my daughter saw so many of her friends from the Philippine music and theatre industry working at the park as characters, even headlining the many shows throughout the day. Imagine if these same artists had these same opportunities in our own country. I’m sure they don’t like being away from their family and friends. We would have no problems filling up hotels and theme parks with the best of the best when it comes to the hospitality industry and these customer-experience driven workers would play a big part in making sure tourists come back again and again.

When I think about all of it, it amazes me how much times have changed over the past ten years. The world is suddenly a much smaller place and no country can live in isolation any longer, lest they get left behind. Going out and seeing the world has become an important aspect of every family and now people are making plans to travel the world and broaden their horizons. Because of this, countries are not sitting idle and hoping that tourists choose them. Instead, they are making sure they are the destination of choice with exciting attractions, theme parks, and other tourist enticing institutions. There are big plans for the Philippines in terms of this. Now whether they will push through or not, I guess we will just have to wait and see.