MANILA, Philippines— The Department of Tourism (DOT) launched the online booking system enabling travelers from across the world to expect a smoother visit to the country’s famous subterranean river in Puerto Princesa City.
The DOT said the online booking system is aimed to ease the traffic of tourists visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) and to avoid confusion in securing permits from the PPUR office. The project is launched in partnership with the local government.
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said in a statement on Monday that “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,” he further said.
The launching of the online booking system for the PPUR is just the beginning of a joint effort of DOT and the local government to implement measures that would help ensure that the world famous attraction’s carrying capacity will not be compromised according to Jimenez.
As one of the world’s new Seven Wonders of Nature, a title earned by the famous attraction last year, the 8.2-kilometer Palawan river has become a top tourist crowd drawer. It recorded an increase of 45 percent in arrivals since 2011 as DOT records shows.
The DOT turned over the online booking system to the city government on Feb. 7. It can be accessed through http://ppur.com.ph even by travel agencies all over the country and abroad.
Confirmed bookings will receive an email notification which will also serve as a digital invoice that should be printed and presented upon visit to the PPUR.
Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn showed his optimism that the new online booking system would result in “renewed fun” in the city and would help create a suitable and efficient payment mode for visitors. An optimism that would make more visitors enjoy the fun-derground excitement of the river tour.