THE Philippines’ best dive sites are being promoted at the ongoing Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Show 2022 in Orlando, Florida.
In a news statement, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) COO Margarita Montemayor Nograles said the country’s participation at the DEMA Show will help sustain its presence in the international market, particularly in North America, a significant source of pre-pandemic arrivals. With the lifting of international travel restrictions, TPB projects 30 percent of Americans will take more leisure trips until the end of the year.
“We have been participating in this event since 2015. However, due to the pandemic, we were not able to maximize the marketing and business opportunities for the past two years,” said Nograles. “Now is the time to reinforce the country’s recognition as one of the world’s best dive destinations and to tap US markets to re-explore the Philippines for underwater adventures. We are surely back in the game,” she said. TPB is the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The three-day DEMA, which opened on November 1 at the Orange County Convention Center, is the largest trade-only event in the world for companies in scuba diving, water sports, and adventure travel. It attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals from around the world each year.
The Philippines booth highlighted the country’s best dive sites in Batangas, Cebu, Bohol, and Palawan and featured activities such as the sardine run, reef wall snorkeling, dolphin watching, and wreck diving, among others.
On top of the business meetings and networking sessions, the Philippines booth also conducted country presentations and disseminated information about the recent developments in the Philippine dive industry.
Divers from other markets
The Philippines was recently recognized as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards 2022 held in Ho Chi Minh City, the fourth year it was bestowed the title since 2019, and edging out Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Under the National Tourism Development Plan of 2016-2022, the DOT identified other source markets for dive tourists, where more promotional efforts are needed, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Middle East, UK, Germany and Russia.
For her part, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed optimism that the country’s participation in international trade shows such as the DEMA Show will signal a strong comeback for the country’s dive industry. Also, the Philippine Commission of Sports Scuba Diving, an attached agency of the DOT that oversees marine sports, recently received a budget P9.53 million for the first time from the national government, aiming to implement a more intensified dive tourism promotion and development program.
“We are elated that our national government has been supporting the dive industry ever since and we are more than ready to welcome dive professionals and enthusiasts from all over the world. Our 7,641 islands, tropical climate, accommodating locals, diverse marine life, and world-renowned underwater sites await you here,” said Frasco in the same news statement.
Among the Philippine delegation were dive resorts and operators such as the Crystal Blue Resort, Magic Resorts Philippines, Discovery Fleet, Kasai Village Dive Resort, Scandi Divers, El Galleon Resort/Asia Divers, Buceo Anilao Beach and Dive Resort, Atmosphere Resort and Spa, Amun Ini Beach Resort and Spa, Salaya Beach Houses, Atlantis Dive Resort and Liveaboard, Arkipelago Divers and Beach Resort, Reef Haven Scuba Diving School, Sea Explorers Philippines, Marco Vincent Dive Resort, and Club Aquasports Dive Center.
Image credits: Tourism Promotions Board