Philippine travel industry stakeholders are excited about the global attention that Pagcor Entertainment City will give the islands. The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) think the venue will provide huge employment in a number of different sectors as well as promoting tourism. PTAA president Aileen Clemente said: “This will also spur domestic tourism and generate huge employment following the rise of several world-class, landmark establishments.”
She added: “This Pagcor project will be a big contribution to the country’s tourism industry as it will draw foreigners’ attention to the Philippines.”
Entertainment City’s first facilities will be open in 2013 and its expected the venue will help the country to reach 10 million tourist visits each year by 2016. It’s hoped annual gaming industry revenue at the venue will reach a heady US$10 billion and the government will get 25 percent of this.
Tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez added: “Any development that involves attracting tourists is beneficial to our program to boost the tourism sector. Pagcor’s Entertainment City will be beneficial to Philippine tourism.”
Government sources are reporting the numbers game Jueteng has been flushed out in Camarines Sur province. Interior and Local Government secretary Jesse Robredo reported that local police were successful in weeding out the offenders and added: “It should be a good example to all other provinces where jueteng and other forms illegal gambling operations exist.”
Sr. Supt. Procopio Lipana, Camarines Sur Philippine National Police director was responsible for the operation and Robredo said: “As per report submitted to me by Col. Lipana, all police station chiefs and anti-gambling operatives in Camarines Sur reported to him that STL (small town lottery) operations in the province have stopped.”
Manila reps have been looking at regulating jueteng and using it to boost the economy. It’s not clear whether this operation will lead to regulation advancing more quickly or not.
