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News Top Stories Banyan Tree to build two resorts in Palawan
News Top Stories Banyan Tree to build two resorts in Palawan
| Banyan Tree to build two resorts in Palawan |
| Sunday, 13 January 2008 11:44 | ||||||
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The hotel and resort developer has decided to build in the islands of Coron and Dumaran, each of which would have Banyan Tree’s signature pool villas and multi-award winning spa services. The project is expected to be completed by 2010. Dumaran is a 55-hectare island surrounded by stretches of white-sand beach. It is 15 minutes away by speedboat from the thriving town of Coron, which is accessible from Manila through daily scheduled flights. The company said the islands would remain pristine and secluded and retain their ambience, characteristics that are attractive to tourists and that would make the islands premier Banyan destinations. Banyan Tree officials led by executive chair Ho Kwon Ping and accompanied by its Philippine partner Salvador Zamora II, Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano and former finance secretary Jose Isidro Camacho made a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang on Nov. 14. Ho said to the President, “We are very happy to inform you that we will proceed with our planned investment despite the recent happenings in your country.” He was referring to the Oct. 22 explosion at Glorietta 2 and the Nov. 13 bomb attack at the House of Representatives. “Bird flu, SARS and tsunami are far bigger problems than incidental acts of violence,” Ho said. “Our long-term investment plan is to operate an integrated chain of hotels and resorts in the country as what we did in other countries. We believe that this country has the potential to compete not only in the region but also throughout the world.” When fully completed, the integrated chain would cost from $700 million to $800 million and employ as many as 8,000 Filipinos. Banyan Tree operates in India, Indonesia, China, Maldives and Seychelles. It runs a chain of hotels and resorts in Vietnam and Thailand. In Thailand it has seven hotels that directly employ 4,000 people. Banyan Tree, which had invested before in the Philippines, considered returning to the country and looking for investment opportunities here after its officials met with President Arroyo during her state visit to Singapore in November 2006. Giving an assessment of the country’s tourism industry, Ho said, “The potential is superb. This country has excellent food, natural resources and culture. The country already has infrastructure that is way ahead of its Asian neighbors, but still road, airport and seaport improvements are needed.” The Department of Tourism assisted the company in choosing Palawan as the best location for its venture.
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