Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc. said Thursday the planned Nickelodeon resort and attraction in Coron, Palawan will be built on land and not underwater as previously reported.
Viacom International Media Networks’ global kids brand Nickelodeon earlier announced a plan to collaborate with Coral World Park for the development of a Nickelodeon resort and attraction in the Philippines.
The announcement quickly drew protest from environmentalists including Environment Secretary Regina Lopez who said the project could harm corals.
Lopez said she would not allow the underwater theme park in Palawan if it would cause destruction of corals.
“If the underwater theme park would cause the destruction of corals, right away, I will say no way. The fishermen need corals. The corals are the home for the fish, and some of our corals have shells and sponges that can cure cancer. I will never allow our biodiversity to be killed for money that some people want to make,” Lopez said.
Coral World Park marketing communications director Susan Lee said there would be no theme park development in Palawan. “Our plans are to build a resort and attraction, of which we are designing as an undersea attraction with an ocean conservation focus – this is reflected in the press release with Viacom International Media Networks,” Lee said in a statement.
The planned Nickelodeon resort will be a part of Coral World Park, a 400-hectare undersea-themed masterplanned development in Coron.
Viacom said in a statement the resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six meters below sea level.
It said when completed, CWP would be the largest coral reef conservation program in Asia, with Asia’s largest marine sanctuary for five key species – dolphins, sea cows, sea horses, turtles and whale sharks.
CWP, however, said only 100 hectares were allocated for the Nickelodeon facility and up to 30 hectares would be for the attraction itself, which had not been finalized yet.
“The only infrastructure in the water is floating and all developments are on land. The “undersea themed” Coral World Park is land-based but is designed to meet the international standards required as a global destination especially environment related standards advocating conservation tourism, renewable energy and category 5 proof architecture,” CWP said.
CWP said the facility would be on a private property and would be undergoing all the necessary approvals from the government before construction started. The Coral World Park owns eight global brands for the Philippines.
CWP said the project was five years in the making and coordinated with the relevant officials of the Philippine government.
“We aim to create a large scale reef conservation program which is sustainable, together with sanctuaries for key species in the area – these are part of our blue-print besides the job creation opportunities. We aim to work with as many advocates as possible to create a world class destination for tourism with an undersea theme,” CWP said.