The impact of rising fuel prices is beginning to weigh on local tourism, with fewer travelers expected to hit the road this Holy Week, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, March 31.
The governor noted a visible decline in weekend traffic to Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), a popular destination for road trippers.
Definitely there are fewer vehicles, especially motorcycles, parked on the side of the road at coffee shops and areas frequented by local tourists on weekends, Lacson said.
The surge in fuel costs is also hitting the maritime sector, and a drop in interisland sea travelers is likely, Frank Carbon, a consultant for Weesam Express, said.
He said that fast craft fares are expected to rise further.
About two weeks ago, when fuel prices approached ₱100 per liter, fastcraft fares went up by ₱70, Carbon said. This brought one-way tickets to ₱740 for first class and ₱650 for tourist class.
He said another increase by ₱20 to ₱30 may be necessary if fuel prices continue their upward trajectory.
Meanwhile, Carbon urged provincial and city councils to convene their respective price monitoring bodies amid the rising prices of goods.
Lacson said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is doing its job and already actively monitoring prices.
He will consult with the DTI to determine if it is still necessary to convene the provincial price monitoring council, the governor said.*
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