Eskaya Beach Resort Corp. is investing P525 million to build a beach resort and spa in Panglao, Bohol.

To be developed are eight hectares in Barangay Tawala. Some 16 villas will be built with private pool, Jacuzzi and whirlpool bathtub. All villas will also be fully landscaped with land area of 90 square meters.

Other amenities include an infinity swimming pool with poolside bar, environmentally designed spa, health and sports gym, sports facilities, a full-service business center, meeting room, water sports facilities, indoor and outdoor sports facilities and dive shop for scuba divers.

Eskaya will be marketed as a resort for wellness and tourism as Panglao Island’s beaches are considered the most popular sites in Bohol, one of the top tourist destinations in the country,

The project component, which includes deluxe hotels and resorts development, puts Eskaya in a strategic position to attract tourists in Panglao.

The Department of Tourism has endorsed the project as a Class "AAA" resorts.

The Board of Investments thus gave the project a pioneer status, giving it a six-year income tax holiday.

The project will hire 74 people once it becomes fully operational by January next year.

Panglao is considered a world-renowned site of Marine Life Bio-Diversities because of its newly discovered marine species.

It also forms part of the tourism cluster under the Philippine Tourism Master Plan and the Super Region development strategy of the government.

Based on the current Bohol tourism master plan up to 2010, Bohol tourism arrivals are expected to grow an average annual growth rate of 15 percent thus requiring more high-quality rooms.

Demand for higher quality rooms is expected to increase from over 850 units to 1,500 by that time.