In a development seen to drive more tourists into the Philippines, voters have chosen the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, the movement behind the recognition announced Saturday.

In a statement on its website, the New7Wonders Foundation announced this as a result of the first counting of votes to elect the New Seven Wonders of Nature, which include the Philippine tourist attraction. The group said it will then verify the results and confirm the winners in early 2012.

The other winners in the initial counting include the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, and Table Mountain.

The New7Wonders Foundation, which is based in Zurich, Switzerland, came up with the list based on votes through text messaging and Internet voting, which ended Friday.

The screening began from as far back as 2007, with a list of nominees from over 400 locations and over 220 countries.

“We congratulate each of these participants on achieving their provisional New7Wonders of Nature status, and look forward to completing the confirmation process to celebrate each one in their own official inauguration ceremony early in 2012," the New7Wonders Foundation said.

The founder of New7Wonders, Bernard Weber, envisions the new list as a modern version of the Seven Ancient Wonders said to have been selected by Philon of Byzantium in 200 BC.

“The new wonders that have been selected are the people’s choices," the group New7Wonders explained. The new Wonders of Nature will then “bring our natural heritage onto the same level of appreciation as that which has been made by humans," the group added.

Govt-led effort

In the Philippines, the government spearheaded the campaign to vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. President Benigno Aquino III himself led the Internet and text voting for the Philippine river last June.

Over 42,000 barangays also took part in a synchronized text voting for the said natural wonder in October. “Sa tulong ng mga barangay, sigurado na panalo na ang Puerto Princesa Underground River," Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said.

The Philippine entry’s recognition as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is seen as a potent boost to the country’s tourism.

The global spotlight on the Puerto Princesa Underground River comes at a time when the government is boosting its tourism campaign by highlighting the country’s natural beauty.

“We deserve a visit from the world," said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez in a one-on-one interview with GMA News TV “State of the Nation" anchor Jessica Soho.

Known for its unique and outstanding scientific, biological, and geological features, the Puerto Princesa Underground River became a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in December 1999.

The river was also declared as a National Geological Monument in December 2003.

Source:-
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/238265/n...ders-of-nature