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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Pagcor: Integrated resorts, casinos driving tourism growth

Pagcor: Integrated resorts, casinos driving tourism growth

Published Jun 24, 2024 05:26 am

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said that the country’s integrated resorts and casinos are driving local tourism growth. 

Ma. Vina Claudette Oca, Pagcor's assistant vice president for gaming licensing, said that investments in these establishments generate a ripple effect benefiting various industries.

Speaking at the Philippine Tourism and Hotel Investment Summit, Oca said that while casinos play a part, integrated resorts offer a diverse range of attractions beyond gaming. 

Pagcor mandates that these resorts provide a mix of non-gaming amenities like dining, shopping, and accommodations to enrich the visitor experience, Oca said.

She also pointed out that only a small fraction, 7.5 percent, of the total floor area in integrated resorts is dedicated to gaming activities.

The majority is reserved for non-gaming facilities such as hotels, retail spaces, dining outlets, and other entertainment options, the Pagcor official said.

Oca also highlighted the significant impact of integrated casinos on employment, with over 20,000 Filipinos currently working in these establishments, contributing to local livelihood opportunities. 

Additionally, nearly 80 percent of Pagcor’s regulated gaming revenues are channeled back to the government to support essential socio-civic projects.

The Philippine Tourism and Hotel Investment Summit, graced by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco as the keynote speaker, was held at the New World Makati Hotel on June 21. 

The event was a collaboration between the Department of Tourism's agency, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Pagcor, and the Tourism Promotions Board.

As of April 24, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported that the Philippines has welcomed over two million international visitors, with South Koreans leading the pack in terms of inbound arrivals.

From Jan. 1 to March 31, the country's tourism receipts amounted to approximately P157.62 billion, a recovery rate of around 120.7 percent compared to the P130.59 billion revenue recorded during the same period in 2019.

According to the DOT's data, a total of 2.01 million international visitors entered the Philippines during this period. 

Of this number, 94.21 percent (1,9 million) were foreign tourists, while 5.79 percent (116,446) were overseas Filipinos. This reflects a 15 percent increase in international arrivals compared to the same period last year, which saw 1.7 million visitors.

South Korea remains the leading source market for inbound visitor arrivals in the Philippines, accounting for 27.19 percent (546,726) of the total arrivals. 

It is followed by the United States with 315,816 visitors (15.71 percent), China with 130,574 visitors (6.49 percent), Japan with 123,204 visitors (6.13 percent), and Australia with 88,048 visitors (4.38 percent). 

Canada, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Germany round out the top ten source markets, ranking from sixth to tenth place, respectively.

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