New hotels to boost tourism in Bicol region

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines - Tourism in the Bicol region is expected to receive a major boost with the opening of a business hotel and a luxury resort in Albay. Tourism Secretary Joseph H. Durano said tourist arrivals in the region are projected to "grow by 10 percent" with the recent opening of Hotel Venezia and the December launch of Discovery Bay Misibis. Both hotels are owned by Bicolano businessman Elizaldy S. Co. Tourist arrivals in Bicol this year are seen growing by 8 percent to 974,000 while tourism receipts are projected at P481.3 million. In the first quarter of the year, 256,746 tourists arrived in Bicol, 35,258 of whom are foreign travelers, DOT data showed. “We were surprised that in the first quarter alone, tourist receipts already reached P300 million. The more the foreign tourists, the better for the local economy," Durano said. At the rate tourism is growing, Durano said the region may hit the one-million mark in arrivals by 2009. Durano said the opening of Discovery Bay Misibis is expected to attract a more upscale crowd with higher spending power, pushing tourist receipts in the region to reach P530 million. The resort has just been included in the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World list. The only other SLH-listed hotel in the Philippines is Discovery Shores Boracay, which is owned by the Discovery Leisure Co. of the JKTC Group. The first phase of the P1.6-billion resort has 38 villas, seven of which will be fronting the Albay Gulf. Construction will be completed in time for its soft opening this December. Co, who made his fortune in the construction business, tapped HSAI Raintree Management Co. to manage the resort located on Cagraray Island, Albay. The hospitality management firm is a joint venture between the Tiu family of the JKTC Group and hotelier Annabella Santos-Wisniewski. Hotel Venezia, on the other hand, is seen raising the bar for the business hotel market in the province. HSAI Raintree is also managing said 40-room hotel. Aside from catering to business travelers, Hotel Venezia also serves as a “hub" or jump-off point for tourists who want to travel to Donsol, Sorsogon to see the butanding (whale sharks) and visit other interesting points within Albay such as the 18th century Our Lady of the Gate Parish in Daraga; Liñgon Hills, where a Japanese World War II tunnel was dug up; Busay Falls in the municipality of Malilipot; the Boiling Lake in Manito; and the Mayon Volcano. Some of the rooms at Hotel Venezia also offer a view of the active volcano. After the completion of Discovery Bay Misibis, Co is also building three-story resort units and a separate condotel. - GMANews.TV