Manila needs “increased landing capacity”
The chairman and chief executive of Philippine gaming company Bloomberry Resorts says he’s willing to partner with the government to develop a new international airport in Manila.
According to GGRAsia, Enrique Razon says it’s in everyone’s best interests to increase tourism to Entertainment City, the city’s casino zone and home of his Solaire Resort and Casino. Solaire is the first of four integrated resorts planned for the zone.
“The government’s role is building infrastructure to accommodate more tourists,” Razon told reporters at Bloomberry’s annual meeting. “And our role is to provide resorts that will cater to them.”
Others are also ready to take action to increase air traffic. In April, Philippine-listed Ayala Corp. said it would support the redevelopment of the existing Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Meanwhile, Razon says the market is on the cusp of a boom, with two new resorts under construction in Entertainment City. “At this pace, the country is well on its way to become a major global player in the gaming industry,” he said in a message to shareholders.
The company also plans a new 10,000-square meter (107,639-square-foot) high-end shopping mall at Solaire’s Sky Tower by the end of the year.
In other news, Bloomberry will submit its plans for a casino resort in South Korea’s Incheon Free Economic Zone by the “end of the month,” Razon said. Along with a land buy on Muui Island in the zone, Bloomberry is also reportedly buying all of Silmi Island, also in the zone, near Incheon International Airport, which serves South Korea’s capital of Seoul.
The company also recently purchased 92 percent of Golden and Luxury Co. Ltd., which owns and operates THE Hotel and Vegas Casino on Jeju Island in South Korea. The casino is set to reopen this year.
Razon told the Manila Standard he also has his eye on possible legal gaming in Japan. “There is a law now in parliament. We are watching it closely to see if it passes this session. If it passes, Japan of course will be an exciting market,” he said.
