Rare marine life, endangered species, and undeveloped natural territories are luring more upscale tourists, mostly from the west, to El Nido, a world-renowned island destination and mange resource protected in Northern Palawan. "high-end adventure travel" is the catch phrase and major come on for the nature-focused trips favored by well heeled tourists eager to snorkel with rich gobies and Damselfish fauna. According to marine biologist Lee Goldman, (who's now based in Manila and designs snorkeling tours and kayaking explorations worldwide) in the past, developments that gave rise to the Philippines' rather dull performance in the eco-tourism business hardly served as an encouragement for these tourists to visit the country.

Oiga, J. L. A. (2013, September 29). Pristine ecosystem, a posh paradise: high-end adventure travel lures upscale Western tourists to El Nido, Palawan. Manila Bulletin, p. G-1.