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New Long Nose Tax for Apo Island Divers

Discussion in 'Tourist Information' started by Rye83, Jan 8, 2017.

  1. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    Seems some of the local dive shops are concerned about a new long nose tax.

    Prices went from P300 per dive (for locals and foreigners) to P800 for locals and P1,800 for foreigners per visit. I guess it really depends on how many dives you do per visit to Apo Island....and I also what exactly they mean by "per visit".

    I'd also be curious if this is tax is for all visitors and not just divers. I personally would not pay P1800, on top of the travel costs, just to get on the island. I also have an issue with being charged more than double what a local is charged. I know it is not unusual for governments to charge more for non-residents of the city/municipality/province/country the park resides in but their fees are quite ridiculous compared to every other country I have been to a park in.

    What makes me even less willing to pay such ridiculous fees is that I am almost certain that the vast majority of the money is going into some politicians pockets and not towards maintaining the park/reserve or to the people who live in the area that are not allowed to fish/work in the parks.
     
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  2. DavyL200

    DavyL200 DI Forum Luminary ★ Global Mod ★ ★ Moderator ★ Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Plenty of resorts complaining about this long nose tax here now,it will hit tourism badly,this country cannot compare top dive sites with apo island. All you can see at apo is turtles and these can be be seen in any other first class dive sites in the world along with many other species. Just greed again and thinking they are better than any other.
     
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  3. Dave & Imp

    Dave & Imp DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Please do not try to apply logic to the new pricing scheme, or economic principles either. I guess no one has every taught the law of diminishing returns for pricing here in the Philippines. As I learned it at some point in time, items are priced beyond reason to the point that fewer and fewer buy the product; the gross sales income is reduced because of small quantities of purchases, and the best decision it to lower the price until gross income is maximized. (this only applies to products with constant cost of production.. like the local tourist trade) This reduction is gross income will happen here when the people decided it is no longer reasonable priced, and stop coming. The Government will get reduced fees, along with other taxing entities that tax the resorts, airlines etc. causing the resorts, transportation provider to Negros, and many other entities to also suffer economically. This will have no effect on the economic decisions pricing schemes of the Philippines, if some of the local politicians are pocketing the money. They really do not care about the Philippines or the people of the Philippines. Obviously the politicians have figured out with the local low unemployment rate here,(even after putting the lower end of drug industry out of business) that jobs and family incomes are not important... unless it is your family income. :o o:
     
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  4. canoer

    canoer DI New Member

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    I don't know.
    It's difficult to understand the Philippine propensity to "shoot myself in the foot" when it comes to dealing with tourists. The Philippines is starting to get a bad reputation, and tourists with the money to travel just pick someplace else to go...and I don't blame them.
     
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  5. Dave_Hounddriver

    Dave_Hounddriver DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster

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    If the divers pay it then someone will make more money. If divers rebel and don't pay it and the money coming in takes a dive then they will drop the price again :banghead: Oops, forgot where I was for a minute. They would rather ask too much when no one is paying it than put the price down to where people will actually pay it.
     
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  6. Seasky

    Seasky DI New Member

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    Just got a place in Valencia and in the process of moving over. Did the new fees go into effect and was anyone able to clarify if LOCAL foreigners are subject to the "foreigner" rate? Many thanks.
     
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  7. gerry_bc

    gerry_bc DI Forum Adept

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    Without getting too far off track I can see them asking for your citizenship card as non citizens can't own land. ..you pay the tax.
     
  8. Seasky

    Seasky DI New Member

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    Agree, and if they can break even, they probably feel they are ahead because they've successfully reduced the "human footprint" in the area.
     
  9. Dave & Imp

    Dave & Imp DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Typically if no one comes and buys something they raise the price to make up for the loss gross revenue that is not coming in... then after raising the price they lose more gross income and have to raise the price again; then after raising the price again, they lose more gross income and have to raise the price again;then after raising the price again, they lose more gross income and have to raise the price again; then after raising the price they lose more gross income and have to raise the price again,then after raising the price they lose more gross income and have to raise the price again.then after raising the price they lose more gross income and have to raise the price again. There is no learning curve here. :o o: This is how most eating/drinking establishments go out of business here.
     
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  10. Show Pony

    Show Pony DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Looking at your logic causes me concern!
    Are you sure your an architect cause I'm starting to think maybe your one of those MBA guys. Suspicions are aroused. :smile: :smile:
     
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