The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is once again recognized for its unrelenting support to the local tourism industry after PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Cristino L. Naguiat, Jr. was awarded the “Personality of the Year” for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations by the Skal Tourism Personality Awards, held at the New World Hotel in Makati on September 5, 2013.

The award is given to individuals or organizations from various industries such as travel and tourism, media, government and academe among others, who have significantly contributed to the promotion of local tourism.

According to the PAGCOR Chief, getting recognized by an international organization like the SKAL inspires him and the state-run gaming agency to do their utmost in attracting more tourists to experience the best that the Philippines has to offer.

Naguiat further cited that with the developments in PAGCOR’s Entertainment City project, more tourists from Asia and other parts of the world will be enticed to visit the Philippines.

“Developments at the Entertainment City started in 2009 with the construction of Resorts World Manila. Further progress had taken place after that. Mid-March this year, one of our four major licensees - the Solaire Resort and Casino - opened the Phase 1 of its project to the public. Also, Melco Crown Entertainment forged partnership with the SM group. We look forward to the next inauguration, this time the Philippine version of the Famed City of Dreams,” he added.

Robert Lim Joseph, Jr., President of SKAL International Makati said the PAGCOR Chief is “very much involved in helping the travel industry.”

“Chairman Naguiat has been supporting our programs, conventions and had undertaken projects that are SKAL-led. What we need today are more professionals who are working hand in hand with the various industries related to tourism in order to make the local tourism sector more globally competitive. How do you do that? Through seminars, technology transfers, best practices etc. We have to upgrade everybody and the new players in the industry can help us in this endeavor,” Joseph explained.

He added that the prime movers in the Philippine tourism industry are excited about the Entertainment City. “The developments in the reclamation area will dramatically change the tourism landscape in our country. We want to focus on the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions) opportunity that the project could create.”

According to Joseph, they are calling the Entertainment City the MICE City “because gaming is only a small part of the entire project. There will be more hotel rooms, more convention centers, more exhibition halls, shopping, etc. What we see here is a lot of developments and progress. In other words, we can create activity. It will not only spur economic growth; it will be the catalyst.”

SKAL is an international professional organization of tourism leaders. Formed in 1980, it has around 500 clubs in 90 countries around the world. The “SKAL Tourism and Personality Awards” is the organization’s way of recognizing local tourism luminaries from various industries.

Apart from PAGCOR Chairman Naguiat, the other awardees at the 23rd SKAL Tourism Personality Awards were airline magnate Lucio Tan; Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez; Cebu City Vice Governor Agnes Magpale; GMA Network CEO Felipe Gozon; TV host Kris Aquino; Baron Travel CEO Ma. Elena Panganiban – Yaptangco; Publisher and Chairman of La Isla Magazine Timmy Tan; Philippine Star lifestyle columnist Honey Loop; Country Manager of Qatar Airways Abdallah Okasha; Chairman of Bellevue Hotels and Resort Johnny Chan; CEO and owner of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa Emmanuel Gonzales; Gawad Kalinga Founder Antonio Meloto; President of Clark Development Corporation Arthur Tugade; Manila Bulletin columnist and Associate Editor Deedee Siytangco; and Philippine Star travel columnist Christine Dayrit.

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