It’s business as usual at underground river
The world-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) remains fully booked, indicating that the travel advisory issued by the US Embassy on an alleged kidnapping threat in Palawan has had no effect on tourism yet.
“We are not feeling it as of now. In fact, right now we are fully booked, and tomorrow, only a few slots are remaining before the underground river is fully booked,” park superintendent Elizabeth Maclang said Thursday.
She said there were cancellations, but these were immediately offset by walk-in tourists.
Those who cancelled were 30 cadets of the Mabalasik Class of 2019 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on May 10 and three guests on packaged tours of travel agencies in Puerto Princesa.
Maclang said a decrease in the number of visitors may not necessarily be due to the travel advisory. She said it is almost lean season and this could be the reason for a decline.
During the peak season, the park accommodates around 1,200 guests per day, and not less than 700 guests during lean periods.
“Parang wala na nga kami low season, eh (It appears we don’t even have a lean season now),” she said.
City Tourism Department (CTD) head Aileen Cynthia Amurao, on the other hand, said the travel advisory would have an undeniable effect on the local tourism industry, but she was confident that it would be minimal.
Amurao said her office has been receiving calls inquiring about the safety of visiting Puerto Princesa, and this is a good sign that people are still interested in continuing their travels.
The provincial government has assured that Palawan is safe and is not under any threat.