The success in the in the New7Wonders of Nature global vote of the Amazon campaign led by the Loreto region of Peru, and the Puerto Princesa Underground River campaign from the Philippines, has meant greater worldwide attention for both. This is now being turned into economic recognition with the addition of new international flights to both Iquitos (capital of Loreto) and Puerto Princesa airports.
“Immigration ready for tourist influx” was the GMA News headline on a story that highlighted the pioneering arrival of flights a few weeks ago to Puerto Princesa airport from Korea, with the promise of more to come to the region: “Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas announced that the construction of a new international airport in Puerto Princesa will start late this year.”
Under the heading, “Presidente de la región anunció vuelos internacionales Panamá/Iquitos/Panamá desde setiembre de este año“, La Región noted that Iquitos will be the first airport in Peru (apart from the capital Lima) to welcome international flights, which will connect the city with the major Latin American hub of Panama starting in September this year. In the New7Wonders of Nature campaign, the candidacy of the Amazon was shared by Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela as well as Peru — where the Amazon river has its origins.
Commenting on this news, N7W Director Jean-Paul de la Fuente said, “We already saw the extraordinary impact from our first campaign for the man-made New 7 Wonders of the World, where increased tourism interest has led to the expansion of the airports closest to the winners Petra, Machu Picchu, and the Great Wall, and it seems as if the same is the case now – where the virtual world result of the global New7Wonders of Nature vote evolves into the positive real world of economic, tourism, infrastructure, jobs benefits.”
The economic value of being voted as one of the New7Wonders of Nature has been estimated at $US1 billion over five years for each winner. The projection is based on an independent impact report by Grant Thornton, an international organization of chartered accountants and management consultants.