Banyan Tree Resort to Rise on Diwaran Island, Coron, Palawan

Despite the world economic crisis, a big name in the resort business that developed Phuket in Thailand is investing in the Philippines' Diwaran Island, part of the Calamian Group of Islands in northern Palawan.

When Inquirer.net bannered the story, Tutubi immediately recognized the islet as one of the magnificent sights he saw in Coron and was able to capture with his camera in 2004: azure waters, cerulean skies, magnificent limestone formations and underwater world teeming with fishes and corals, all within 20 minutes from Coron town.

limestone island of Coron Palawan (photo taken in 2004)

The project is said to cost about $200M in an area of 55 hectares and targeted to be finished by 2012. It's expected to provide jobs to locals in the hope the area to be another tourism magnet to rival Phuket of Thailand. The island resort will have a total of 600 keys, three spas, a marina, and a town center with recreation facilities and restaurants.

Banyan Tree resorts are found in Phuket, Thailand; Maldives Vabbinfaru; Bintan, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Seychelles; Ringha, China; Lijiang, China; Bahrain, and Maldives Madivaru. The flagship Banyan Tree Phuket introduced the first tropical garden spa concept.

The problem with the development of the islet, it means the area will be off-limits to backpackers exploring the island on their own. The nearby island, where you can find Cayangan Lake, however, is part of the Tagbanua people's ancestral domain and will still be open to tourists.

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Coron, Palawan