The Philippines must not let the recent surge in online gaming revenues diminish the vital role that the country’s integrated resorts play if it is to meet its tourism ambitions, according to Newport World Resorts (NWR) President and CEO Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez.
Speaking at the IAG Academy Summit on Wednesday, where he delivered a Keynote Speech, Rodriguez acknowledged the benefits that the online sector can bring to a diverse Filipino customer base but noted that land-based gaming remained a cornerstone of the wider entertainment experience and central to reclaiming the Philippines’ place on the global travel scene.
“Online play is not a stopgap for the integrated resort experience,” he said. “It has become an additional touchpoint, expanding options for patrons and tapping into a market segment that fuels growth.
“But land-based integrated resorts must remain relevant. Our role is not diminished but redefined: to anchor tourism, to deliver culture and entertainment, and provide the human connection and experiences that online play can never replicate.”
Although NWR is in the process of enhancing its own online gaming platform, Rodriguez noted that the company’s larger investment right now is in expanding its land-based portfolio and “elevating our standards”.
This includes taking control of the LETX casino and hotel project at Westside City, new casino projects within the group’s townships in Boracay and Mactan, and upgrading its existing facilities at NWR.
The company is, he added, preparing to roll out smart gaming tables at NWR via Walker Digital Table Systems – “making play seamless and service more intuitive.
“Our hospitality portfolio is stronger than ever, with Manila Marriott Hotel and Hotel Okura Manila recognized in the Michelin Guide, and soon the unveiling of our first self-branded Filipino luxury property, The Narra Palm Hotel and Villa,” he said. “By extending our IR footprint, we are not only scaling up, but also creating new experiences for customers and growing the market itself.”
Rodriguez also pointed to various trends witnessed across the Asia-Pacific region – the rise of mass and premium mass markets, ESG (Environmental, social, and governance) as an investor priority, the acceleration of digital personalization and emergence of AI, and the strengthening of regulatory environments – as reshaping how the industry operates.
“This year, we see international arrivals [to the Philippines] are pacing slightly behind last year, driven by declines in key markets like South Korea and China. But these changes are not unique to the Philippines,” he said.
“They reflect broader shifts in the region. What is important is that the foundations remain strong and potential emits. The country’s recent exit from the FATF grey list is another moniker of progress, signaling stronger governance and further boosting investor confidence.
“Infrastructure gaps, ease of travel challenges and hotel room backlogs remain barriers to scale. The exit of POGOs and rising scrutiny of online gambling are reshaping the landscape. But the Philippine market has proven highly dynamic, adapting quickly to shifts.
“PAGCOR has played a key role in this, ensuring stability with responsive regulations that balance growth with responsibility. The fundamentals remain solid. A strategic location, an English-speaking workforce, a hospitality culture admired around the world and a regulator committed to governance and innovation.
“The Philippines has moved beyond recovery. It is now a story of resilience, growth and ambition. Integrated resorts play a vital role in this journey, and not just as centers of leisure entertainment, but as drivers of tourism, enablers of jobs and partners in nation-building.
“As we look ahead, let us recognize the opportunity before us to shape an industry that is more relevant, more responsible and more resilient than ever.
“Together, we can ensure that integrated resorts transform with purpose.”
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