Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is stepping up investments in its 320-hectare Lio Estate in El Nido, Palawan, betting that the next wave of tourism growth will be driven less by short vacations and more by long-stay living, remote work and integrated island communities.
The property giant is rolling out a new round of infrastructure and community projects designed to transform Lio from a resort destination into a fully connected mixed-use estate that caters to residents, entrepreneurs, hospitality operators and investors.
“The next phase of Lio is about strengthening how the estate functions as a connected, lived-in destination,” said Cris Zuluaga, group head of Ayala Land Leisure Estates. “These investments deepen the relationship between nature, community and enterprise.”
Among the projects are a transport terminal, an events pavilion, a visitor’s center showcasing Lio’s sustainability initiatives, a 3.7-kilometer waterfront boardwalk, expanded pedestrian links between Lio Airport and commercial districts, and the redevelopment of the Lio Jetty into a leisure and community hub overlooking El Nido Bay.
The expansion reflects a broader shift in travel and property markets, where demand is increasingly moving toward destinations that combine leisure, work, residential living and investment opportunities in a single location.
Central to the next phase is Sitio Aplaya, a 16.3-hectare mixed-use district near Lio Beach that will add residential, retail, hospitality and lifestyle developments within a walkable neighborhood.
The strategy also reinforces Ayala Land’s long-term estate development model, where recurring economic activity from tourism, commercial establishments and residential communities complements property sales and strengthens asset values over time.
More than half of the Lio Estate has been preserved as forests, wetlands, mangroves and other natural ecosystems, underscoring the company’s sustainability agenda alongside commercial expansion.
As El Nido continues to attract both domestic and international visitors, Ayala Land is positioning Lio to capture a growing market that increasingly views island destinations not just as places to visit, but as places to live, work and invest.
