Resorts on Samal Island on an upgrading frenzy

MANILA, Philippines -  Embracing the new role of the Garden City of Samal as the ecotourism hub of the southeastern Mindanao region, the resorts on the island at the center of the Davao Gulf are embarking on an expansion and upgrading binge to cope with the phenomenal surge in their tourism volume.

“The upgrading frenzy can be observed among the resorts in their property development activities that are either recently concluded, ongoing or in the pipeline,” said Davao Region director Art Boncato of the Department of Tourism (DOT), as he lauded the members of the Samal City Resort Owners Association (SCROA) for rising to the challenge.

“The SCROA member-resorts are matching our promotional efforts with product development activities across the board for both local and foreign markets,” Boncato said.

The ongoing and upcoming development activities hint at what Samal Island has evolved into over the years with its diverse eco-tourism attractions of world-class proportions.

“However, we are carefully managing the situation to avoid overdevelopment that may spoil Samal’s natural ecotourism charm,” Boncato added.

He cited a conservation program for the water resources of the island’s Hagimit Falls, the over 3,000 giant clams in the marine and fish sanctuary, and the world’s largest colony of nearly two million fruit bats in the privately owned Monfort cave, among others, all near the 116-kilometer coastline of white-sand beaches that ring this Philippines’ biggest resort city of 301.3 square kilometers or 30,130 hectares.

Aside from the fast growing influx of domestic and foreign tourists, Samal’s rise as an ecotourism hub is palpable from the transformation of the resorts in both quality and capacity.

Such can be gleaned from the high-end Pearl Farm Beach Resort and the seeming hideaways Tiki Beach Resort and Precious Garden Beach Resort, all the way to the popular family-oriented Paradise Resort, Camp Holiday Resort, and Punta del Sol, among many others, each with its own market niche and captive clientele.

Pearl Farm alone is investing millions of pesos in renovating and upgrading its accommodation and resort facilities for a fresh and an even more upscale look and feel, featuring guestrooms, suites and cottages that convey royalty and luxury in a nature-surround environment and exotic Mindanao-inspired architecture as designed by famous architect Bobby Mañosa, according to operations manager Brenda Maceda.

“Among those being renovated are the Pearl Farm’s Parola wharf, Maranao Restaurant, and sand-finished infinity pool,” Maceda said.

To connect the Parola to the resort is a wide boardwalk that ushers guests to the new Pearl Farm in all its beauty and grandeur.

All in all, the new Pearl Farm (www.pearlfarmresort.com) will have children’s playground and lounging area for its tennis and basketball courts, nursery for floral plants and fruit trees, new structure for reception and business center, fully equipped conference room, an enlarged souvenir shop, weaving area, library and multi-purpose house with sound-proofed karaoke, game room for various indoor sports, gym, spa, swimming pool, wakeboard, aqua sports center, helipad, and fully landscaped garden setting in all of its vast expanse, while also offering attractive environment and community-friendly activities such as biking, birdwatching, hiking, sunset cruise and many tour packages to various natural tourism attractions nearby.

Similarly elegant but in a very private setting is the Tiki Beach Resort (www.tikibeachresort.com), which showcases only five luxury room accommodations in a spacious tree-lined ambiance with a wide white-sand beachfront of 327 meters, making every guest feel like having his own exclusive portion of the island and the coast.

The entire resort, according to chief operating officer and general manager Wolfgang Pfumer, is open to individuals and families but only up to a total of 20 people.

“That’s because our top selling point is serenity and privacy amid all these scenic beauty and elegant facilities, with each of the five rooms or cottages of varying capacities having its own beachfront to make every guest feel like having his own piece of paradise,” Pfumer said, citing the resort as ideal for various events and special family occasions.

Both the Tiki Beach Resort and the Pearl Farm Beach Resort support the Visit Samal Campaign (www.visitsamalislands.com and www.discoverdavao.com) of the city government and the DOT.