Quantcast
Latest Stories

New online booking: It’s more fun on underground river tour

By

Travelers can now expect a smoother visit to the famous subterranean river in Puerto Princesa City with a new online booking system, a project launched by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with the local government.

MANILA, Philippines—Travelers from across the world can now expect a smoother visit to the country’s famous subterranean river in Puerto Princesa City with a new online booking system, a project launched by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with the local government.

In a statement issued Monday, the DOT said the online booking system was aimed at easing the traffic of tourists visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) and avoiding confusion in securing permits from the PPUR office.

“Puerto Princesa City is a perfect example of a local government unit that works hand in hand with the national government,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. in a statement on Monday.

“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 said.

The DOT and the local government’s joint launch of the online booking system for the PPUR is just the beginning of their effort to implement measures that would help ensure that the world-famous attraction’s carrying capacity will not be compromised, said Jimenez.

Being named among the world’s new Seven Wonders of Nature last year, the 8.2-kilometer Palawan river has become a top tourism draw, recording an increase of 45 percent in arrivals since 2011, according to the DOT.

The tourism agency turned over the online booking system—which can be accessed through http://ppur.com.ph even by travel agencies all over the country and even abroad—to the city government on Feb. 7.

It noted that successful bookings will receive an e-mail notification, which will serve as a digital invoice that has to be printed and presented upon the visit to the PPUR.

For his part, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said he was optimistic the new system would result in “renewed fun” in the city and would help put in place a more efficient payment mode for visitors.

Follow us on Facebook Follow on Twitter Follow on Twitter




Recent Stories:

US stocks dip despite M&A activity 2 hours elapsed Tornado hits Oklahoma City suburb 2 hours elapsed Gay man’s killing in NYC leads to police increase 2 hours elapsed Asia-Pacific leaders warn of water conflict threat 3 hours elapsed Yahoo! confirms Tumblr deal for $1.1B 3 hours elapsed Mobiles offer financial lifeline to Asian migrants—study 3 hours elapsed Protest rally planned after gay man murdered in Manhattan 5 hours elapsed Fil-Ams voted for 10 of 12 Aquino-backed candidates 5 hours elapsed
Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines.

Tags: Lifestyle , online booking , Philippines , Puerto Princesa , Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) , technology , Tourism

  • redkinoko

    Been there. It was kind of a tourist trap. The length of the river isn’t apparent since the boat that takes you inside doesn’t go very far anyway. 

  • williamarthur

    i tried to access the website, its just a countdown page…is it working already?

  • Cano Manuel

    I don’t think “more fun” really lives up to the expectation. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Adrian-Edioma-Migraso/100000428284639 Adrian Edioma Migraso

    astig! pwede paypal! hehe

  • http://jaoromero.com/ Jao Romero

    when i went there, booking was fine. but the waiting time took all day! we arrived early morning but got to go inside the cave nearly 5 in the afternoon. they need to increase the number of boats that ferries passengers!

    i almost want to tell everyone that asks me of my opinion of PPUR to stay away from there because of the long waiting time they will suffer.

    • anu12345

      If it will take that long, I will scratch that from my intended destinations.

      • shane oy

        not my loss. 

    • CheapJ

      Overbooking then. This could easily be addressed if there was a study/analysis how many passengers can be accommodated per boat, how many boats are available for a day, how long will it take a boat to traverse PPUR and how soon is the boat available for the next set of tourists. This is too simple for PPUR management to overlook.

    • NY_Pinoy

       The government is trying to streamline the system but the incentive system still favors the local tour operators.  We stayed at the Legend Hotel and took their tour package.  We had very minimal waiting time. 

      I suggest that would-be visitors book their visit with the local tour operators, typically associated with their hotels.  They need to do this at the moment of booking for the hotel. 



Copyright © 2013,
.
To subscribe to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper in the Philippines, call +63 2 896-6000 for Metro Manila and Metro Cebu or email your subscription request here.
Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer's day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer's Reader's Advocate. Or write The Readers' Advocate:
c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94
Advertisement

News

  • Tornado hits Oklahoma City suburb
  • Fugitive Joavan caught in Moalboal resort before he flees to Negros Oriental
  • Davide braces for Capitol payables; meets officials
  • Rama on vacation as ally hits BO-PK on poll protest bid
  • Vietnam rice stocks arrive in Cebu
  • Sports

  • Aces not one and done, says Uytengsu
  • What a class act by Alaska
  • Caluag rules Asian BMX Elite category
  • Emperado claims 2nd GM victim, shares lead
  • Fruitas, Boracay seek semis berths Tuesday
  • Lifestyle

  • Olongapo nurse crowned Miss PH-Earth on second try
  • These dogs can fly– and that includes asPins, too
  • Hair: It doesn’t only reflect your beauty, it also says something about your health
  • Learn ‘the ropes’ to get in shape
  • Can the ability to bilocate be inherited?
  • Entertainment

  • Single Review: ‘Up In The Air’ by 30 Seconds To Mars
  • Arnel Pineda: Journey to go on a hiatus after 2016
  • Heard: Sir Chief on being ‘Papa-ble!’
  • Double victory for Yllanas
  • K-pop’s G Dragon eager for challenge of solo tour
  • Business

  • US stocks dip despite M&A activity
  • MyxTV launches app on Roku
  • Asian shares higher on US gains
  • PH approves three new wind farms
  • BIR exceeds April collection target
  • Technology

  • Yahoo! confirms Tumblr deal for $1.1B
  • Mobiles offer financial lifeline to Asian migrants—study
  • Metro’s traffic situation may now be monitored via smart phones, tablets
  • Yahoo! to buy blog-maker Tumblr for $1.1B—report
  • Free Inquirer tablets for lucky INQSnap readers
  • Opinion

  • Editorial cartoon, May 21, 2013
  • Reliance on remittances
  • Shattered bamboo reeds
  • Ideal worlds
  • The sheer inadequacy of single-factor analyses
  • Global Nation

  • Fil-Ams voted for 10 of 12 Aquino-backed candidates
  • Different versions of letter of apology show insincerity—Taiwan representative
  • Manila, Taipei agree on ‘cooperative’ probe
  • Saudi signs accord to protect PH maids
  • Binay urges Taiwan to protect Filipino workers
  • Marketplace
    Advertisement
    © Copyright 1997-2013 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved