Ayala mall to attract more Subic tourists, says SBMA

Tourists visiting Subic Bay in Pampanga are expected to double in the next three years with Ayala Corp.’s P3-billion mall project.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is promoting the former site of the US Naval base as a world-class water sports destination and a convention center after the Subic-Clark expressway was completed.

"People will have the chance to enjoy the same water sports attraction without traveling as far as Camarines Sur," SBMA Administrator Armand C. Arreza said in an interview.

Along with the proposed mall, Ayala will also develop surrounding areas that will include parks, roads and pathways that should encourage the improvement of existing commercial establishments inside the Subic Freeport zone, he said.

Subic will offer interesting attractions with the opening of Ocean9 casino, a golf course and the development of a high-roller casino island resort in the next three years.

Existing attractions such as the Camaya Beach Resort, Legenda Suites and amusement parks are also expected to expand.

The Ayala mall project is expected to be finished by 2012, Ocean9 by next year, the $200-million Neo Cove by 2013, the expansion of Camaya by 2012, the high-roller resort and the improvement of the Legenda suites by 2013.

Arreza said they would also develop an area devoted to culture and the arts, an attraction that Subic missed to offer a long time ago.

“Subic will have a total face-lift in the next three years," Arreza said.

The Subic Freeport attracted the most number of visitors at more than two million as of October last year.

Next to Subic was Camarines Sur with 900,000 tourists, followed by Cebu with 830,000; Boracay with 383,000; Baguio with 371,000; Davao with 326,000; Puerto Galera with 215,000; Bohol with 160,000 and Negros with 146,000.

“We aim to sustain this in 2010 as we see bigger growth in commercial tourism," Arreza said. — GMANews.TV