Online booking system for Underground River

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the city government of Puerto Princesa, Palawan have teamed up for a new online booking system for local and foreign tourists visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR).

Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn shared how tourism has anchored the city’s sustainable development paradigm, particularly in managing the ecosystems that tourism in-flows demand.

“We worked very hard for Puerto Princesa’s tourism. And we could not be happier that it, indeed, worked and flourished. But the demand was quite overwhelming. It eventually caused us more problems than rewards. We had more than what we could handle, and we weren’t prepared for it,” Hagedorn added. He looks forward to renewed fun in Puerto Princesa now that an online booking system and more efficient payment modes are in place.

Tourist influx to Puerto Princesa surged after the underground river was declared one of UNESCO New 7 Wonders of Nature, yielding an increase of 45 percent in arrivals since 2011. The increase in traffic has caused confusion in securing permits from the PPUR office and the city government’s crowd control or restriction of access to the site due to environmental concerns. The automated booking system will help tourists as they plan their visit to the city. It can also be accessed by travel agencies all over the country and even abroad.

“Puerto Princesa City is a perfect example of a local government unit that works hand-in-hand with the national government. We, in the department, are enablers of tourism. The active participation on the ground is what makes things happen, as it is always done on the people’s behalf.  More importantly, we are assured that sustainability is responsibly shared and prioritized by the local government. This is merely the beginning of our efforts together and one of the measures that will help ensure that the world-famous attraction’s carrying capacity is not compromised,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said.

“We should be thanking Puerto Princesa more obviously for the efforts of its people in making fun a real and palpable experience in the country. The DOT is proud to be a part of this success,” Jimenez added.