Asia’s Gem 2008 looks forward to more possible exhibitors as delegates has tapped the amusement and gaming machine manufacturers present during the show and invited them personally to participate in the expo-conference slated on April 2-3 at the SMX Convention Center.

       It has been so long since gaming has taken the backseat in favor of the entertainment and tourism industries. For a long time, these two industries have been calling the shots in terms of economic boom and recovery. However, recently, the international gaming industry has been moving towards a paradigm shift and demonstrating profitable highs as the trend goes from mere gaming to total entertainment. The desert city of Las Vegas is leading this evolution from purely gaming to a more well-rounded experience, deriving nearly 75 percent of its tourism revenues from entertainment rather than gambling.

       Remarkably, this synergy between gaming and tourism has not gone unnoticed. Las Vegas’ success story is inspiring more and more casino destinations to follow suit by innovating, developing and expanding their products and services. Macau, reputed as the casino gaming capital of Asia, propelled its tourism and recorded visitor arrivals of almost 20 million tourists in 2005, compared with 17 million the year before. Even a conservative country like Singapore is opening its doors to gaming, with two integrated casino resort facilities to open in the next few years; while Thailand has already endorsed the legalization of casinos in the kingdom.  

       Since Chairman Efraim Genuino took over the helm of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in 2001, the country has already adopted this global leisure dynamic through his blueprint—the Entertainment City (E-City), the country’s response to the global trend in gaming. E-City is an integrated lifestyle center that will rise along Manila Bay that will feature casinos, deluxe hotels, theme parks, shopping, business and entertainment centers, a racetrack, a sports stadium, a hospital district, and residential villages, among many other attractions at par with international standards. With this gamut of tourism and gaming project, the local economy for sure will get a major boost as it attracts more investments and generate numerous job opportunities that will establish the Philippines as a world-class tourist destination.  

       The feasibility of the Philippines as a gaming and tourism destination was tested in 2006, a time when gaming expositions in the world have been carving their own niches, as it hosted the first ASIA’S GEM – Gaming and Entertainment plus Leisure Expo-Conference. Now anticipating its third year, the exposition and conference, presented by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and organized by the Asian Gem Foundation, has become one of the most anticipated events of the year, providing a venue for synergy and cooperation among serious industry players worldwide.

       No other trade fair exhibition provides great magnitude as much as ASIA’S GEM. It gives participants the chance to see the latest gaming machineries and equipment, gaming-related products and services, among others, in the exposition; network with the industry’s decision-makers in the conference; and the same time allow them to “work hard and play hard” with an Invitational Golf Tournament and the World Celebrity Charity Poker Challenge.  Above all, the two previous shows welcomed close to 5,000 international and local trade visitors and saw the creation of the Euro-Asian Cooperation on Gaming (ECG) Association, an alliance of gaming industry leaders from Asia and Europe. 

       With all these said and plans have been laid out, the world simply waiting for its execution, there is no doubt that gaming will be on the driver’s seat of the global economy for a long period of time. As pillars and walls have been broken down and geographical and language barriers crossed, truly, the future of gaming and total entertainment tourism has finally arrived.

       The world’s leading international gaming executives and experts are in Manila for the Asia’s GEM – Gaming and Entertainment plus Leisure Expo – Conference 2007.

       Presented by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and organized by the Asian GEM & Tourism Foundation, Inc., Asia’s GEM 2007 is a one-stop shop for the region’s gaming, entertainment and tourism industries. It gathers under one roof casino operators, hotel chains, tourism destinations and establishments, integrated tourism-gaming hotels and resorts, entertainment companies, investors and gaming-equipment  manufacturers and suppliers, and gaming enthusiasts from around the world.

       Asia’s GEM reflects the signs of the times. Global gaming and tourism are both recording astronomical highs. According to Jayport Holdings, Asia’s legitimate casino industry is worth US$4.1 billion and will grow by an estimated 6% annually for the next 20 years. The Far Eastern Economic Review also reported that Asians are expected to spend US$32 billion in casinos worldwide by 2010. Global tourism is just as robust. In 2006, arrivals worldwide grew by 4.5% to 842 million, said the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Asia and the Pacific bested the world’s growth rate by increasing its tourist arrivals by 7.6%

       Cognizant of the symbolic relationship between gaming and tourism, the international gaming industry has been moving towards a paradigm shift from mere gaming to total entertainment. Las Vegas is leading the trend a more well-rounded experience, deriving nearly 75% of its tourism revenues from entertainment rather than gambling. This success story is inspiring more and more casino destinations to follow suit by modernizing, enhancing and diversifying their product offering. The synergy between gaming and tourism has not gone unnoticed. Even a hitherto conservative country such as Singapore is opening its doors to gaming, with two integrated casino resorts to open in the next few years.

       The Philippines has already adopted this new global leisure dynamic through the dream and vision  of PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Mr. Efraim Genuino. Since taking over the helm of PAGCOR in 2001, Chairman Genuino has drawn up the blueprint for the country’s response to the global trend in gaming – the Entertainment City, an integrated lifestyle center along Manila Bay that will feature casinos, deluxe hotels, theme parks and various attractions, among others. This mammoth tourism and gaming project has the salutary effect of attracting investments and generating myriad job opportunities, thereby boosting the local economy and establishing the Philippines as a world-class international tourist destination. While the realization of this new frontier in entertainment has been held back as PAGCOR awaited the extension of its franchise, now that the Philippine Congress has passed the PAGCOR-franchise extension bill, Entertainment City will soon become reality.

       It is with this new global leisure dynamic in mind that Asia’s GEM comes into play. Though only in its second year, it has firmly established itself as a major player in the international gaming exhibitions market. The show stems from the vision of Chairman Genuino to create a level of playing field in international gaming by offering small-, medium-sized and established gaming suppliers and manufacturers equal chances for business exchanges with casinos across five major continents.

       During its inaugural sortie last year, the show welcomed close to 5,000 international and local trade visitors. It also saw the creation of the Euro-Asian Cooperation on Gaming (ECG) Association, an alliance of gaming industry leaders from Asia and Europe aimed to foster greater cooperation and mutual support among casino operators, owners and investors.

       Asia’s GEM 2007 intends to build on the gains established last year by capitalizing further on the synergy between gaming and tourism. The event’s theme, “Forging Alliances – Future of Global gaming” permeates throughout the various components of the Expo-Conference.

       The Expo, on March 22 and 23 at the World Trade Center, will feature suppliers of the latest gaming machineries and equipment, gaming related products and services, vacation clubs, golf clubs, popular and new destinations, and entertainment providers and venues.

       But Asia’s GEM is not just about gaming. In its pursuit of the social deal of job generation, the Expo also features talent management centers and booking offices among others to showcase the Filipino talent and capabilities to casino, entertainment and leisure operators worldwide. Asian GEM & Tourism Foundation, Inc. president and Asia’s GEM chairperson Ms. Marceline Clemente said: “Asia’s GEM strives to uplift social conditions by attracting investments and providing job opportunities in the entertainment, international gaming and leisure sectors. Our goal is to develop new avenues for national growth, economic resurgence and social development.”

       The 1st Asia’s GEM – Gaming & Entertainment plus Leisure Expo in 2006 showed the Filipino at his best once more – the creativity, the talent to entertain, and the guts to pursue and succeed in an endeavor that others don’t give second thoughts to.

       Asia’s legitimate casino industry is worth US$4.1 billion and growth estimates put it at 6% a year for 20 years. Presently, dominant nations in the gaming market include Macau, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines, with Singapore and Thailand to follow suit.

       Recognizing the Philippines as having one of the best tourism products and, with the current market trend highlighting the interconnected relationship between Gaming and Tourism, Asian GEM and Tourism Foundation, Inc. and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) co-presented the first Asia’s GEM- Gaming & Entertainment plus Leisure Expo. This recognition was reinforced by PAGCOR chairman and CEO Efraim Genuino in his welcome address to the delegates.

       “One of the most important things about this expo is that it makes the paradigm shift of PAGCOR from casino (gaming) to entertainment.  For our country to recover economically, we need tourism.  And for us to invite tourists to come here, we need to have projects like this Gaming and Tourism expo as well get the support of foreign investors,” he said.

       “This event is meant to develop opportunities intended to boost our country’s involvement in the new face of tourism, a step that we firmly believe will hasten our government’s plans for economic resurgence and further social development,” echoed Asian Gem and Tourism Foundation president Ms. Marceline Clemente.  The presence of Gaming luminaries underlines the recognition of the Philippines’ vast and untapped potential as a regional gaming and leisure giant, as it draws inspiration from Las Vegas. This desert city has transformed itself from a purely gaming territory to one of the world’s most successful tourism and entertainment destinations.  Already, through PAGCOR’S initiative, plans are underway for the US$15-billion entertainment City (E-City) Tourism and Economic Zone to be built at the historic Bay Area.  When finished, it will have five-star hotels, high-rise establishments, shopping business and entertainment centers, a racetrack, a sports stadium, a hospital district, and residential villages at par with international standards.

       A litmus test on the feasibility of the Philippines as a gaming and tourism destination was the formation of the Euro- Asian Cooperation on Gaming (ECG).  With Chairman Genuino leading the delegation that made promotional visits around Europe to create awareness about the organization, its objectives and impact, vital working relationships were forged with key associations, specifically the European Casino Association.

       The ECG was then formed during the Euro-Asian summit of Leaders coinciding with the Asia’s GEM Expo held at Manila’s World Trade Center.  In recognition of his leadership capabilities, Chairman Genuino was elected to chair the association.

       The organization boasts a prestigious roste of members including Mr. Kack Binion pf Horseshoe gaming fame, Mr Danny Ho of the Sociedad de Jogos de Macau, and Mr Yigal Zilka, Chairman of Hotel Casino Loutraki in Greece, among other stalwarts in the industry.  With this respectable line-up, Chairman Genuino declared, “It is our common objective to put the gaming industry in its rightful place along with entertainment and tourism, possessing such acceptability and recognition among the nations of the world.”

       Asia’s GEM ’06 was not all meetings and protocol.  The 110 companies and entities who displayed their products related to the industry participated in the Expo and Conference, and witnessed other highlights such as the Celebrity Charity Poker, hosted by Mr. Jack Binion, founder of the renowned World series of Poker;  PAGCOR’S first Asia’s GEM Invitation Golf Tournament; a Card Dealing Exhibition; and various entertainment by Philippine artist.

       But, like in theaters where the glitter and splendor are rehearsed and backstage is reality, it is the reason behind PAGCOR’s outstanding drive and performance that deserves equal notice.

       “Putting it simply, we work for the Filipino people so whatever amount of success PAGCOR enjoys, directly benefits the country.  Every employee is driven by this important fact and we continue to thrive because of that,” Chairman Genuino proudly asserted.

       Indeed, as the first Asia’s GEM – Gaming & Entertainment Plus leisure Expo heralded the Philippines as globally competitive in the industry, the future Expos will establish our country as a proud destination for gaming, entertainment and leisure, and contribute to its economic strength.