MANILA, Philippines — For the fifth time, the Philippines has been recognized as a prime diving destination in Asia by an international tourism body.
The country was awarded as “Asia’s Leading Dive Destination” in this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA), the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced yesterday.
Tourism Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano received the award during the WTA Asia and Oceania Gala ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Sept. 6.
The country bagged a similar award in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, according to the WTA website.
The recognition automatically qualifies the Philippines in the WTA’s “World’s Leading Dive Destination” honor.
The awarding for the “World’s Leading Dive Destination” will be held in Muscat, Oman in November.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, herself a certified diver, said the award affirms the unparalleled beauty and megabiodiversity of our country that is loved by divers and tourists all over the world.
“This is a testament to the Philippines’ commitment to sustainable tourism development and our strengthened collaboration with tourism stakeholders. From our ridges to our reefs, you will never run out of reasons to Love the Philippines!” Frasco said.
She said the DOT plans to “elevate” its promotion of the Philippines to attract more divers by creating a “dive committee” composed of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Tourism Promotions Board and the Philippine Commission for Sports Scuba Diving.
Among the programs and projects the agency has lined up are dive expeditions in various parts of the country, the upcoming Philippine Dive Dialogue in Cebu and installation of hyperbaric chambers, which will help scuba divers gain access to affordable treatment for decompression sickness.
The chambers will be set up in Daanbantayan, Cebu and Dumaguete City in 2024.