Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), the investment arm of tycoon Dr. Andrew Tan, is planning to develop a $300 million integrated resort and casino in Boracay in addition to its planned $400 million for a similar, but bigger, project in Mactan.
In an interview during the Inside Asian Gaming Summit last week, AGI President and CEO Kevin Andrew L. Tan said the planned Boracay World Resorts will be a boutique development and smaller than the Mactan World Resorts.
The Boracay project, to be located in the group’s 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast township, will be developed by AGI’s tourism and gaming unit Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. and is targeted to start operations as soon as next year.
“It's not going to be very big. It's like a boutique style. A boutique casino… because we don’t want a big structure in Boracay. We want it to be just right for the island. We’re having a more sustainable design so it will be right for the island,” Tan said.
He noted that, Boracay World Resorts is envisioned to elevate the resort island's appeal to tourists from all over the globe.
“Our group currently owns 150-hectares called the Boracay New Coast and, in this area, we have an 18-hole golf course and our own one-kilometer private beach and also close to 2,000 hotel room keys,” he said.
In this property, is the 80-hectare Fairways and Bluewater Boracay, which is the island’s only golf course, a 6,524-yard, 18-hole, par 72 Graham Marsh-designed fairway that has served as a venue to international golf events.
Aside from the boutique casino, Tan said Travellers is also developing a resort with free standing villas and hotel suites.
“This unique feature will elevate Boracay World Resorts to an elite league of destinations and abilities, possessing the rare distinction of having its own golf course, private beach--redefining luxury by seamlessly combining the natural beauty of Boracay with the excitement and sophistication of a modern integrated resort,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tan said the 30-hectare Mactan Newtown will be home to a state-of-the-art hotel, resort, and casino that will start construction early next year and slated for commercial operation by 2026.
The group has already secured the support of the local government for the Mactan casino and resort project and now in the process of getting a gaming license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.