Philippine targets more visitors for dive tourism offerings

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is eyeing to attract more foreign tourists with its dive offerings as the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) participates in an international indoor water sports trade show in Germany.

In a Facebook post, TPB said it is participating at the International Boat Show Düsseldorf, also known as BOOT Düsseldorf in Germany.

“The delegation, coming from the Philippines’ growing dive industry, encourages more German dive enthusiasts, including marine photographers and videographers, to explore the impressive underwater world of the country,” TPB said.

“The event also provides opportunity to widen network and strengthen business connections with European dive tour operators and media,” it added

The TPB added that Philippine booth at the trade expo highlights the country’s abundant marine biodiversity, emphasizing its potential for the diving tourism market.

In 2019, the Philippines was named as the world’s leading dive destination by World Travel Awards. 

The Philippines bested eight other global dive destinations also nominated under the same category, namely Azores Islands, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Galapagos Islands, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Maldives and Mexico.

“Dubbed by marine experts and scientists as the heart of marine biodiversity in the world, our country is home to the highest concentration of coral reef life and astounding variety of marine species. This latest recognition is a validation that the Philippines is truly a premier dive destination,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said earlier.

In October, the Philippines earned its first Asia’s Leading Dive Destination award at the WTA’s gala event for Asia and Oceania in Vietnam after multiple nominations since 2006.

Dive tourism is identified by the DOT as one of the key areas in the National Tourism Development Plan that can positively affect industry growth in terms of increased visitor count, extended length of stay, and higher tourism revenue, among others.

In line with its push for dive tourism, the DOT has hosted a number of dive-centric events including the Anilao Underwater Shootout photography competition, and the Travel Trade Support through Dive Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) business-to-business exchange.

The DOT also launched the first Philippine International Dive Expo exposition in September, which housed the TRAVEX.

The exposition gave foreign buyers the opportunity to see and experience first-hand Philippine dive products and knowledge of the country’s dive destinations, and stressed the Philippines’ competitive advantage in the region, not only as a diving destination, but also as a business hub.

“Through the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, we also ensure that diving safety and operating standards in the country are at par with the rest of the world,” Puyat added.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said earlier the DOT will continue to organize familiarization tours especially to the emerging dive destinations to be able to expand the footprint of dive tourism in the country.

Bengzon said currently, about five percent of the country’s foreign arrivals participate in diving activities when they visit the Philippines.

“The challenge for us now is to expand the current base which we estimate at about 350,000 out of the 7.1 million foreign visitors – and also to make them stay longer and spend more,” Bengzon said.