The rest of 2024 is looking bright for the Visayas and Mindanao’s hospitality and tourism industry, according to property developer AppleOne Group Inc.
This followed Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco’s pronouncement that Mindanao plays a significant role in the tourism transformation during the second Mindanao Tourism Expo (MTEx) in April.
Frasco said the implementation of infrastructure projects in Mindanao such as tourist rest areas (TRAs) aim to attract tourists and enhance their experience for repeat visits.
AppleOne assistant vice president for hospitality Samantha Manigsaca said Visayas is expected to continue thriving, with the island province of Cebu at the forefront. Cebu alone saw a 283.35-percent increase in tourist arrivals in 2023.
Manigsaca said Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the largest international airline hub outside Metro Manila, plays a vital role in the rising number of inbound tourists arriving directly at Mactan.
MCIA connects to 28 local destinations across the Philippines via 8 airlines and services 17 international carriers that link Cebu to multiple prime international destinations.
“And for us to meet this increasing demand brought about by the boom of travel and tourism, real estate investments now become a center of attention, because we believe that there is still a huge opportunity that Cebu still has to offer,” she said.
AppleOne built the Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and Residences and the business and lifestyle hub, the Mahi Center in Cebu and sees phenomenal potential in the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao region.
AppleOne is now developing the JW Marriott Panglao Island Resort & Spa in Bohol. It will also expand across Mindanao, targeting Cagayan de Oro (CDO) as its next prime location for another luxury brand hotel this year.
CDO is one of the highly urbanized and fastest-growing major cities in Mindanao and is expected to become the Philippines’ fourth metropolitan area by 2025, according to the Philippine Development Plan for 2023-2028.
This is due to its projected population growth and strategic location as a gateway and logistics hub for Northern Mindanao.
“AppleOne will continuously define trends and lead the way in elevating industry standards in all residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors, bringing in global brands which will allow Visayas and Mindanao to be known and recognized worldwide because of the captured market that these brands can bring into our region.” Manigsaca said.
