The Outlets to give boost to Lapu tourism industry

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City expects the opening of The Outlets at Pueblo Verde to give boost to the city’s tourism industry.

Real property developer AboitizLand, Inc. opened the region’s first factory outlet shopping destination last Saturday, dubbed as The Outlets.

The Outlets is a stand-alone mall sitting in a one-hectare property at Pueblo Verde located along Maximo Patalinghug Avenue, within the Mactan Economic Zone 2 (MEZ 2) in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

It is the newest addition to the commercial developments  of  AboitizLand, following the six-hectare commercial village Pueblo Verde in the same vicinity and the Persimmon Plus in support of the Persimmon Studios in Mabolo.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said that the new shopping center complements with the popular tourist attractions, beaches and hotels in Lapu-Lapu and it is expected to draw in an influx of both domestic and international tourists.

The factory outlet is conceptualized to allow manufacturers to offer their products directly to the consumers at discounted prices. During the grand launch, eight stores of top global brands like Oakley, Nike, Levi’s, Converse, Adidas, and The Peso Store already opened its doors to the public.

“There will be lots of tourists, for sure. You don’t need to go somewhere else and even abroad to avail of these good prices and better options for shopping,” she said. 

AboitizLand associate vice president for project development Rafael de Mesa said that they aim to tie up with hotels and tour operators in Mactan to promote The Outlets to the tourist market.

He said that it is sale season all year round at The Outlets as it offers items at discounted prices ranging from 20 to 70 percent.

De Mesa added that the company poured an investment of P50 million for the project, which started last January of this year and was specifically targeted to be completed this month just in time for the Christmas season.

He shared that they expect higher foot traffic in the MEZ 2 area given its accessibility to locals and tourists and availability of parking spaces.

De Mesa further revealed that there will be 14 more outlets to open by the first quarter of 2014. He added that they are eyeing to expand The Outlets to house local brands between the end of 2014 and early of 2015.

Aboitizland, Inc. commercial business unit manager Clifford Academia said that the third commercial development signifies the confidence of  the developer on the retail environment in Cebu.

He said that the real estate company remains bullish of the “retail industry phenomenon” in the province that is mainly driven by the increased disposable income and purchasing power of the public.

Academia said that this could be primarily attributed to the growth in the business process outsourcing industry, vibrant tourism sector and remittance influx from overseas Filipino workers.

He said that Aboitizland intends to launch more commercial retail projects in the years ahead.

The Outlets at Pueblo Verde is designed after the successful brand outlets in the US and Europe, and in the Philippines, in Sta. Rosa Laguna and Metro Manila.

The first outlet store opened in the Eastern United States in the 1930s and outlet malls, like The Outlets at Pueblo Verde, began to emerge in the 1970s. 

The newest commercial development in Lapu-Lapu City will also house local and international food chains such as Calda Pizza, Bo’s Coffee and Wat Ever Family KTV for dining and recreational options. The Outlets is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.  /JOB (FREEMAN)