Travellers International's Expansion with Two New Casino Resorts

Philippines billionaire Andrew Tan, through Travellers International Hotel Group Inc, has announced significant investment plans in the development of two casino resorts located in Mactan, Cebu, and Boracay Island. The construction for these new projects is set to commence in 2026. Travellers, a prominent subsidiary of the Alliance Global Group Inc (AGI), is poised to allocate PHP39.7 billion (approximately US$700 million) towards these developments. Unlike the large-scale integrated resorts such as Newport World or Westside City in Manila, Travellers is opting for a more tailored approach, focusing on boutique gaming centers that complement the already bustling tourism estates managed by the company.

"These will not be massive integrated resorts," stated Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez, President and CEO of Travellers. "We are right-sizing the market by building boutique gaming centres that cater to the tourism estates we already operate." Tan, with Megaworld Corporation, has established a reputation for creating "live-work-play" master-planned communities throughout the Philippines, with more than thirty such townships including Mactan Newtown and Boracay Newcoast. These communities integrate various amenities, including hotels, office towers, residential condos, and entertainment spaces, bolstering their appeal as comprehensive lifestyle destinations.

Challenges and Prospects in the Tourism Sector

The development of these boutique resorts comes at a time when the Philippines tourism sector experiences fluctuations.The numbers tell a curious story: even after breaking revenue records in 2024, the country is now seeing a sharp drop in visitors in 2025. Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco had previously reported a record-breaking revenue of about PHP760 billion. "With these figures," Frasco indicated, "it’s clear that the Philippine tourism industry is not only bouncing back but also evolving and expanding." However, the year 2025 paints a different picture, with troubling declines observed in certain markets. Taking a closer look, Esquire Philippines highlights a distinguished 18% decrease in tourist arrivals from Korea between January and April, largely attributed to rising crimes targeting Koreans. Similarly, tourist numbers from Mainland China plummeted by 34.4% due to factors like decreased discretionary income and the Philippines' suspension of e-visas for Chinese visitors. Additionally, the Chinese Embassy in Manila issued warnings about the increasing crimes against Chinese nationals.

Strategic Moves Beyond Metro Manila

Travellers International's expansion into these new locations represents a strategic diversification away from the overdeveloped Metro Manila. This expansion was described by Context Philippines as "a strategic expansion of its casino and tourism footprint outside Metro Manila," the area known for its Entertainment City casino district. Travellers is also advancing its expansive Westside City integrated resort, located in Parañaque. This project, nearing its completion, represents a stark contrast to the boutique approach, as it includes three hotels, a vast casino with over 2,000 gaming machines, a grand opera house, among other grandeur facilities. This PHP71 billion project is expected to open in the third quarter of 2026 and aims to echo the level of opulence seen in iconic global resorts like Marina Bay Sands or Macau. Rodriguez further articulated the evolving role of traditional casinos amidst the rising dominance of iGaming. He emphasized, "Our role is not diminished but redefined – to anchor tourism, to deliver culture and entertainment and to provide the human connection and experiences that online play can never replicate. The focus now is completing Westside and operating it as soon as we can." The objective aligns closely with fostering a rejuvenated tourism eco-system, delivering unique experiences that go beyond digital offerings.