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Private island resort King’s Island Paradise will have a big comeback this summer of 2020 as the local government unit of Sofronio Española is preparing to open it for business to boost local tourism in the southern part of Palawan.
King’s Island Paradise is located in Brgy. Panitian in Española, an island with 126 hectares of white sand, and owned by Filipino-Chinese businessman Antonio Z. King. It was developed in the early 2000s but didn’t fully operate for some reason.
Española Mayor Marsito Acoy shared that this is the best project he is working on for his last term in office and he believes that it will help better the economy in his town, from jobs to the food supply market to a lot of services that they can offer both local and international tourists.
”Ang isang proyekto na gusto ko mangyari ay yung ating island, kami po ay nakipag usap kay Mr. King na kami po ang mag operate, LGU na at mag uusap na lang kami kung anu yung aming labanan, upang sa ganun ang ating mga turista foreign man o local ay mayron na tayong mapagdalhan sa kanila,” Acoy said.
Acoy explained that King’s Island Paradise was never opened as a fully operational resort since its construction. The owner had a hard time completing it and was still looking for a partner to finish what he started.
This was an opportunity for the local government unit to step in and operate it. He is set to meet with the local tourism council next month to help promote and develop the island.
According to Española Consultant for Tourism and Investment Daniel Magbanua, they are now in talks with Okada Hotel and City of Dreams for possible investment intended for King’s Paradise development.
There are other 7 islands and 10 sandbars in the same area that they will open to the public as part of island hopping experiences.
The original plan for King’s Island Paradise will cost around $2 billion as estimated with the inclusion of putting up more cottages, rooms and convention halls on the island.
King’s Paradise is almost 2 hours and a half by land travel to Panitian from Puerto Princesa, and a 15-minute boat ride from Panitian to the island. It became popular in the late ’90s because it was the first island resort in Southern Palawan, which during the time was part of the municipality of Brooke’s Point.
