Gentle Blue Whale Shark
A tourist-oriented realty firm based here is developing a beachfront property in Donsol, Sorsogon where a world-class resort hotel would rise to boost the tourism industry in the area known as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.
Misibis Lands Inc. (MLI), the would be developer is now arranging the acquisition of the property and financing for the project that would cost some P500 million to be sourced largely from internal capitalization and bank loans, its chairman of the board and chief executive officer Elizalde Co said Thursday.
MLI, a prominent property developer that is among the Sunwest Group of Companies (SGC) based here and owned by the Co family is also owner of Hotel Venezia, a luxurious boutique hotel that lies within Renaissance Garden, a posh residential property at the heart of this city.
It is also the developer of Discovery Bay Misibis (DBM) and Misibis Residential Estate and Spa (MRES) within a 40-hectare island property in Cagraray Island of Bacacay, Albay, both world-class tourist destinations overlooking Albay Gulf whose grand opening is slated before the end of this year.
Discovery Bay Misibis is a P1.6-billion luxury resort on a vast beachfront property placed under the administration of HSAI Raintree, a reputable hospitality management firm behind several well-known tourist facilities in the country like Discovery Suites and Country Suites in Tagaytay City and Discovery Shores in Boracay.
It would be composed of 38 luxury villas and 100-room three-story resort units within the five-hectare property that is more luxurious than the Discovery Shores in Boracay.
“Unlike Boracay that caters more to party crowds, Misibis would serve as haven for eco-tourists who prefer nature and adventure,” Co said.
Other amenities that could be expected from Misibis are horseback riding around the 400-hectare Cagraray Island and interaction with rare animals at a petting zoo that would be set up within the area, he added.
The Misibis Residential Estate that lies within a 20-hectare elevated terrain gifted below with clean and fine white sand beaches, crystal-clear seawater and green environment is comprised of 300 residential properties sold mostly to Filipino-American and Japanese retirees for private development.
The Donsol resort hotel will be master-planned by the world-renowned Australia-based BN Group Pty.Ltd, the same firm behind Sydney Marina, KLCC Suria Complex in Kuala Lumpur and the Embarcadero here, Co said.
Embarcadero, a tourism mall complex also owned by MLI and located at a busy seafront district of this city is expected to open by December this year.
The development of the Donsol resort would start perhaps by early next year and once completed and made operational.
Co said this facility will spur the growth of the whale shark town into a luxurious haven for eco-tourists.
Thousands of foreign tourists arrive at the place during whale shark interaction seasons starting summer to the third quarter of the year but at present, there are no hotel facilities in the area to accommodate them, he said.
What happens now is that these tourists would stay at hotels in this city, go to Donsol that is 40 kilometers away in the morning then return to their hotels late in the afternoon, Co said.
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
Get Philippine Travel News on your inbox - Join Lakbay Pilipinas Mailing List
I really dont fancy luxury resorts much. I think that space is simple wasted on projects like these.
The rich has all the facilities in the world, why keep dumping more stuff for them to enjoy.
They can make better use of the space that is what I think.
For me, world class tourism will be a balance between natural wonders and present- day basic amenities. The whale shark of Donsol is a sight to behold and we should be at the forefront of its protection.
At the same time, the local community does need a way to sustain themselves. If not, the hunting of whalesharks will continue. That is why the LGU must ensure the proper eco tourism standards are upheld at all times. Money isn’t everything but it is a fact that they need it.
Russell
http://www.e-Philippines.com.ph
Philippines Adventure Travel and Destinations
I also think that space is simple wasted on projects like these.
The Misibis Residential Estate that lies within a 20-hectare elevated terrain gifted below with clean and fine white sand beaches, crystal-clear seawater and green environment is comprised of 300 residential properties sold mostly to Filipino-American and Japanese retirees for private development.