What are your thoughts on tourism in a post-pandemic world?

Tourism continues to be one of the hardest hit industries by the COVID-19 crisis. What does the future hold for hospitality and tourism post-pandemic? Landco President and CEO Erickson Y. Manzano and Landco Senior Consultant for Hospitality Patrick C. Gregorio share their views on tourism in these unprecedented times and moving forward.

What do you have to say about the future of the tourism and hospitality industry?

Erickson Y. Manzano (EYM): Well, one thing that the tourism industry has been leveraging on is the fact that you can’t bring leisure and relaxation online. While the internet enables us to be productive wherever we are, especially with tools like Zoom, it doesn’t make up for spending real quality time with family and friends. For us to really connect, we must be physically present in the moment to welcome new experiences together, and that is the real value that leisure travel gives us. So, eventually, one way or another, we expect to see a lot of “revenge travel.” 

I foresee domestic travel will be robust, particularly in nearby destinations like Batangas, which is only a two to three-hour drive from Metro Manila. More people are environmentally and health conscious. They will seek outdoor spaces and beaches where they can commune with nature and enjoy the fresh air away from the pollution in the city. 

The tourism and hospitality industries are incredibly resilient. Looking back at the past 100 years, this is already the ninth pandemic. Judging from that, we know things will get a lot better. And ten years from now, this would be a distant memory, like the dot-com bubble.

What is Landco’s main thrust in the development of CaSoBe and Club Laiya?

EYM: What these past 18 months have offered us is a chance to pause and take a look at our own lives. I’m sure a lot of us have thought, “What is the point of all of this? I’ve been working like a dog all my life; what is all this hard work for?” And I hope most have realized that it is really for our families, friends, and loved ones. That we want to be happy with them while we’re still here and that they will be taken care of when we’re gone. That is the main thrust of Landco’s developments, and that is what these Leisure Tourism Estates (LTE) are — a tangible asset that is a great store of wealth. Something you can enjoy today, which is also something you can pass on to the next generation, so you know they’ll be fine.    

With Landco’s thrust of building legacies and in line with Metro Pacific Investment Corporation’s corporate social responsibility, our developments are focused on helping achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable; and strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Can you tell us about the concept behind CaSoBe and Club Laiya?

EYM: CaSoBe and Club Laiya are master-planned LTEs. These are the latest projects of Landco, an upscale real estate developer for more than 30 years and a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation. The LTEs are envisioned to contribute to the quality of the leisure tourism experience in its locality and promote the three main principles of sustainable tourism, namely, environment, economic, and socio-cultural sustainability. These properties promote entrepreneurship and work-life harmony.

Similar to the appeal of White Beach in Boracay, our LTEs are aiming for people who would like to live along the beach, where the action is, rather than an enclosed community inland.

It also presents an opportunity for budding Filipino entrepreneurs to build their dream beach house that can double as a business, such as a bed and breakfast, coffee shop or restaurant.

It’s the perfect place to live and work close to nature. Eventually, the place will be a hotspot not just for local tourists but for inbound travelers from abroad as well.

These developments under Landco BeachTowns are close to our hearts as our company foresees these lively leisure and tourism destinations in Batangas as the next big thing. These two will be our generation’s Punta Fuego.

What can investors expect from CaSoBe and Club Laiya?

EYM: The 15-hectare CaSoBe offers a mix of seaside residential lots and beachside retail and commercial establishments. There’s a Retail Row, a Harbour Walk, and an Activity Block — with lot sizes ranging from 356 square meters to 890 square meters. All these lots are near the beach; the farthest lot is only 250 meters away from the water. There’s a common area estate WiFi, 24/7 security with CCTV, a beach promenade, and a hotel-inspired property management service. 

Casobe is a haven for those who prefer a more laidback and intimate lifestyle. It is near Cape Santiago lighthouse, a golf course, Little Boracay sandbar, Starfish island, and the underwater pyramid.

Located on the other side of the Batangas coastline, the 24-hectare Club Laiya features a combination of residential and commercial-ready lots in the already popular tourist spot of San Juan Laiya Road. It’s a destination of choice for stylish leisure seekers who love to work on their tan, get into water sports, and hang out in the hottest party scenes. A row of diverse resorts, restaurants and bars already dot its shores.

Two to three hours away from Metro Manila, CaSoBe and Club Laiya are both LEED-registered with Landco’s commitment to long-term environmental and social sustainability.

How does Millennial Resorts fit in the offerings of CaSoBe and Club Laiya?

Patrick C. Gregorio (PCG): The Edge-registered Millennial Resorts Corporation (MRC), an affiliate of Landco, is the hospitality service provider within the Leisure Tourism Estates. MRC owns and operates unconventional accommodations: Cocoons and Crusoe Cabins; the Laiya Beach Club at Club Laiya; and Aquaria, a waterpark with a three-story giant slide at CaSoBē. These are the tourist attractions for which the properties are known for. 

Eventually, MRC will extend select hotel services to our CaSoBe and Club Laiya residents. These include room service, laundry service, booking of adventure activities, and reservation of function rooms, just to name a few. Our visitors and residents alike will enjoy the full experience of resort living. 

For more information about Landco and its Millennial Resorts and Leisure Tourism Estates Club Laiya and CaSoBē, visit https://www.landco.ph/ or FB page: https://www.facebook.com/LandcoPacificCorporation.

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