Hong Kong’s Landing Int’l breaks ground for $1.5-B casino-resort in Parañaque City

Hong Kong-based Landing International Development Ltd. expects to attract up to 3 million foreign tourists to the Philippine via its $1.5-billion integrated resort-casino in Parañaque City.

The company broke ground for its casino-resort development on Tuesday,

Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Landing International, secured a provisional license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) late last month. The 15-year license is valid until July 2033.

PAGCOR said in an earlier statement that Landing may not commence casino operations before the end of February 2022 in line with the gaming regulator’s agreement with other resorts and casinos in Entertainment City. The five-year provision of allowing the gaming industry to mature started in February 2017.

“The project will increase tourist arrivals and tourism receipts significantly. It is expected to attract 2 to 3 million foreign visitors in the country,” Landing International chief operation officer Jay Lee said in a press briefing in Pasay City on Tuesday.

The integrated resort development called “NayonLanding” supposedly supports the country’s goal of increasing its tourism market share in the region, Lee noted.

The NayonLanding is targeted to open in 2022.

The project consists of an indoor cultural theme park and a water park, 1,500-room hotel, a convention center, and a shopping mall.

Entertainment City also houses casino-resorts Solaire, Okada Manila, and City of Dreams.

“When we open by 2022, the integrated resort is expected to create 10,000 jobs,” Lee said, noting that more than 80 percent of the employees will be sourced locally.

In May, Landing secured an approval from the City Government of Parañaque to build the integrated resort-casino in Entertainment City.

Landing broke ground for the $1.5-billion project on Tuesday, August 7. It has a planned construction floor area of 610,000 square meters.

NayonLanding will be a family-oriented resort that sets it apart from other developments in Entertainment City, Lee said.

The company expects two-thirds of revenue to come from gaming and one-third from non-gaming business. —VDS, GMA News