Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) has announced plans to build a $300 million casino resort on Boracay Island, adding a new layer of entertainment to the popular tourist destination.
Nilo Rodriguez, president of Megaworld’s flagship casino project Newport World Resorts, revealed the plans, stating that the casino will be part of an entertainment complex on the island.
“To complete the development, a casino will be built,” Rodriguez said, adding that they had already secured a gaming license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
The project is described as a “boutique casino,” smaller in size and capacity than the Newport complex in Pasay City.
AGI President and CEO Kevin Tan emphasized their commitment to a sustainable design, saying, “We did not want to build a large structure on Boracay Island, as we were ‘imploring a sustainable design’ to complement the size of the island.”
Construction has already begun, with a projected completion date of late 2025 or early 2026.
This comes as a major development for the island and the country’s tourism sector, but it may also spark controversy, echoing past debates surrounding the island’s future.
Echoes of Past Controversy:
This announcement comes just days after AGI confirmed its application for a gaming license for another facility in Cebu.
While Boracay’s popularity attracts millions of tourists annually, the island has faced challenges, most notably a six-month closure in 2018 due to environmental concerns. Former President Rodrigo Duterte famously labeled the island a “cesspool” due to garbage disposal issues.
This new casino project, while touted to be environmentally friendly, may face criticism from local groups who have expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of gambling and large-scale development on the island’s delicate ecosystem and traditional way of life.
Growing Tourism and AGI’s Expansion:
The Philippines’ booming tourism sector has encouraged AGI to expand its hotel portfolio beyond 12,000 hotel room keys by 2028.
AGI is constructing eight hotels with a total key count of 4,000, demonstrating their confidence in the country’s tourism potential.
“We had planned to launch more ‘tourism-focused’ hotel projects to support the government’s thrust for the sector,” said Tan.
The Department of Tourism is targeting 7.7 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, a significant increase from last year’s numbers.
While the new casino resort is expected to attract more visitors, it remains to be seen how this ambitious project will be received by the local community and whether it will be successful in achieving its goal of sustainable development.
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