Integrated Resorts Fuel Economy, Local Tourism --- PAGCOR

The country’s integrated resorts and casinos remain to be one of the main growth drivers of local tourism, creating a multiplier effect across various industries, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

PAGCOR’s Gaming Licensing and Development Department Assistant VP Ma. Vina Claudette Oca received tokens of appreciation from the Philippine Hotel Owners Association for serving as a panelist at the 1st Philippine Tourism and Hotel Investment Summit. I Photo: Leechiu Property Consultants

Ma. Vina Claudette Oca, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for the Gaming Licensing and Development Department, emphasized the aforementioned during a panel discussion at the 1st Philippine Tourism and Hotel Investment Summit held last June 21 at the New World Makati Hotel.

Oca, one of the panelists on the topic "Navigating Challenges and Opportunities for Casino Hotels in the Philippines," said casinos are just a small component of the many attractions offered by integrated resorts in the country.

She highlighted that PAGCOR mandates all integrated resorts to offer more non-gaming attractions and resort facilities, including dining and shopping destinations.

“In fact, they are only allowed to allocate 7.5% of their facility’s total floor area to gaming,” she said.

“The rest of the floor area is allocated for non-gaming facilities such as hotel rooms, retail areas, dining, and other attractions.”

Ms. Oca added that currently, integrated casinos employ over 20,000 Filipinos, helping provide livelihood opportunities to locals. Meanwhile, close to 80% of PAGCOR’s revenues from regulated gaming are remitted to the government to fund significant socio-civic projects, she said.

Gracing the event was Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who served as the keynote speaker.

The event was co-presented by the Department of Tourism’s attached agency, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, along with PAGCOR and the Tourism Promotions Board as government agency sponsors.