Philippine government advocate charging tourists higher ‘usage fees’ | X-Ray International Dive Magazine
Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the towns and cities which have jurisdiction over marine protected areas are undervaluing themselves by charging small fees. This leads to both a massive and unmanageable influx of local and foreign tourists that usually lead to the destruction of natural resources and lack of funds for proper management. Citing the efforts of El Nido in Palawan, which has raised the access fee compared with other destinations Secretary Durano pointed out that tourists continued to come in droves. By imposing “the right price,” the volume of people would drop to manageable levels, while the attraction can get better protection and the community well-compensated, Durano claims. “There is a certain level of the price that will put a limit on the people and yet make the attraction still competitive.” By imposing the right amount of fees and charges, the community would be able to sustain its efforts to protect its natural resources. “We must make sure we hav...