Manila Times: Philippines among favorite dive sites in the world

MALACAÑANG on Thursday lauded the efforts of the Department of Tourism (DoT) in the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Show being held in the United States, which resulted in the Philippines being tagged as a "premier dive destination."

"Spearheaded by the Department of Tourism, the Philippines continues its reign as a premier dive destination in the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Show, open from November 1 to 4, being held in the United States," the Office of the Press Secretary said on Facebook.

"The participation of the DoT at the DEMA Show, one of the biggest events in the industry of scuba diving, ocean water sports, and adventure travel, is expected to ramp up tourism and bring more opportunity for the country's diving sites," it added.

Foreigners' favorite diving spots in the Philippines include Batangas, Cebu, Bohol and Palawan.

Diving tourism is one of those being eyed by the government that will bring in more visitors as part of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s push to "reintroduce the Philippines" to the rest of the world.

The government has allocated P9.53 million for the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, an affiliated agency of the DoT responsible for marine sports, to intensify the marketing and development of diving tourism.

Just recently, the Philippines was named Asia's Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards 2022 held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

This is a title it has won four years in a row, besting its Southeast Asian neighbors Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The Chief Executive has earlier tasked other government agencies to work alongside the DoT in building new infrastructure, rehabilitating and improving existing tourist destinations and discovering new ones, upgrading sea and airports as well as public transportation, and securing tourists, among others, as the ease of travel and upgraded facilities will lure more local and foreign tourists.