Set in the southern part of Manila, Paranaque could be ideally found to be the next major gaming destination. We’re going to take a look at how all of the different aspects of this city uniquely position it to become a gaming hub. Whether it’s transportation links, existing infrastructure, nearby amenities, or any number of other attributes, Paranaque has the makings of the Philippines’ answer to Macau, or even Las Vegas. Business owners, interested tourists, or anything in between, it’s going to be a fascinating insight into the largely untapped potential of this burgeoning gaming giant.
Other Asian Success Stories
One of the hurdles that The Philippines won’t have to overcome, that many other countries within Asia would, is that gambling in casinos is already legal in the Philippines. Gamers over the age of 21 can legally play casino games and already you’ll find plenty of casinos in nearby Entertainment City. There are plenty of other Asian countries who are looking to follow in the footsteps of Macao and create a luxurious gaming paradise. One such country is Japan, where underground casinos operate, but there’s yet to be legalization for casino business in Japan. It appears if Paranaque sleeps on the idea for much longer, then they could lose the unique advantage of being second to market.
Looking at Macao for inspiration should go without saying. This tiny island has a fascinating history and beautiful landscape, much like Paranaque. As well as this there are strong transport links in place and a plethora of cultural landmarks. There is far more that Macao and Paranaque have in common than there are attributes that they don’t share. Macau saw huge investment in the 1990s and now thirty years later is referred to as the Las Vegas of the East. Whilst change like this takes time, investment from luxury casino resorts would have an at once positive effect on the economy in Paranaque, even if it took a short while for tourists to start arriving in their droves.
Growing Entertainment City
One of the existing attributes that could provide Paranaque with a huge head start on becoming a gaming destination is Entertainment City. This complex already features beautiful resorts: Solaire Resort and Casino, City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila, and Resorts World Bayshore, several casinos, and a handful of stunning entertainment venues too. It’s already a tourist attraction, though it caters more to domestic tourists than international ones. With that said, there is still plenty of space for development around Entertainment City where international hotel companies could buy land and build larger, more luxurious casino resorts than are currently in existence.
Having a fully formed, if a little small, entertainment district already is proof that this concept could be revolutionary for Paranaque. Entertainment City already brings tourists and with them, money, to the area. If it was expanded in the right way, these effects would only be multiplied. Currently, Entertainment City is already undergoing improvements and the cost of the build is likely to exceed $15 billion. This level of commitment to creating an even more impressive entertainment centre should provide overseas investors with enough confidence to follow suit.
Situation and Transportation
Aside from being situated close to Entertainment City, Paranaque also boasts many other positive geographical attributes. Firstly, it is situated right by the sea, with plenty of opportunity to create hotels, restaurants, and casinos with views over the ocean, or over the beautiful Tambo river. Often guests will pay a premium for waterfront views, so having the choice for both sides of a building to look out over the water is a huge bonus to potential earnings.
To attract international guests, it’s essential that the location has excellent transport links and Paranaque already does. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport is in Pasay City, just a short drive from Paranaque. This would make international travel, even long-haul travel, super convenient for any hopeful tourists. As well as this, the public transportation network in Paranaque is excellent. There are bus routes and trams running through the city and there is instant connection to major highways. In terms of transportation, there’s very little that would need to be done in order for Paranaque to be easily accessible to tourists from all over the world.
Added Bonuses
Whilst Las Vegas was literally built in the middle of the desert, Paranaque already exists as a vibrant city in its own right. It has a long and fascinating history meaning that there are already some spectacular landmarks in place. The Baclaran Church is a famous tourist destination, even a pilgrimage site for Catholics. Manila is also close by, bringing a whole world of tourist destinations within easy reach of Paranaque. Finally, shopping fans can enjoy the SM City Sucat Mall if they ever desire a break from gaming.
