DOT, Puerto Princesa City gear up for Underground River tourism boom after win

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the city government of Puerto Princesa will intensify efforts to prepare the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) for more tourists following the latter’s win as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN).

“The Department is one with Palawan and the Philippines in celebrating this latest triumph. We congratulate Mayor Edward Hagedorn and the people of Puerto Princesa City for this victory. Now, however, the real work begins, as there is more reason than ever to strengthen environmental protection measures, optimize accommodation and touring capacities, and the like. We look forward to working on these with our local government and private sector partners,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.

As vice chair of the PPUR-N7WN Task Force created by President Aquino in June, the DOT led a tri-media launch of the official promotional campaign last July. The DOT also conducted promotion activities for the PPUR during “Filipino Homecoming” road shows in North America.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature website describes the PPUR as the world’s longest underground river system, featuring an 8.2-kilometer navigable river through an impressive limestone landscape. It joins the Amazon in South America, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil, Jeju Island in South Korea, Komodo in Indonesia, and Table Mountain in South Africa on the exclusive list after a two-year vote among 28 finalists that ended on Nov. 11 2011.