With far less fanfare than in nearby Singapore where both Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa have attracted media attention, another Asian tourism and entertainment complex has been taking shape. Resorts World at Manila, a joint venture between Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group and Star Cruises Ltd (controlled by Malaysia’s Genting) under the name of Travellers International Hotel Group, opened today in front of Manila’s new airport terminal Ninoy Aquino in Newport City, a former air force base.

The new complex is the first of its kind in the Philippines and includes the country’s largest casino, although only the first of three levels opened today with the other two scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The casino, at 30,000 m2 and first to be licensed out by the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corporation (PAGCOR), will house 300 table games and over 1,000 slot machines. The project also includes three hotels and a 30,000 m2 shopping mall. According to Travellers International, Resorts World at Manila will benefit from a number of target markets - locally, many high-income groups live in neighbouring areas such as Fort Bonifacio, Makati and San Juan, as well as southern Metro Manila. The venture should also attract tourists from the Philippine provinces, Filipinos living abroad and foreign travellers.

Travellers International has given the joint venture partners the means to diversify. Star Cruises can evolve from its core focus of cruise ships and Allied Global from its central real estate and food & beverage business. The collaboration between the two groups is intended to make Manila a successful regional centre for tourism and entertainment. Travellers International also has a stake in the big Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City development site on Manila Bay and says that construction there may begin next year. Together the two Philippine projects will bring US$1.55 billion in investment by Travellers International and eventually provide as many as 108,000 jobs. (E-08.28.09)

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