The Philippines’ premier dive spots are being highlighted at the current DEMA Show 2022 in Orlando, Florida. According to Tourism Promotions Board COO Margarita Montemayor Nograles, the Philippines’ participation in the show will help maintain its standing in the international market, particularly in North America, a major source of pre-pandemic visitors. With the easing of international travel restrictions, the TPB predicts that 30% of Americans will take more leisure trips by the end of the year.
“We have been a part of this event since 2015, but due to the pandemic, we were unable to fully capitalize on marketing and business opportunities in the past two years,” stated Nograles. “Now is the time to strengthen the Philippines’ reputation as one of the top dive destinations globally and to target the US market for rediscovering the Philippines for underwater excursions.” “We are definitely back in the game,” she added. The Tourism Promotions Board serves as the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism.
The three-day DEMA Show, which began on November 1st at the Orange County Convention Center, is the world’s largest trade-only event for companies in the scuba diving, water sports, and adventure travel industries. It draws in hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals from all over the globe annually.
The Philippines’ booth showcased the nation’s premier dive spots in Batangas, Cebu, Bohol, and Palawan, and presented a variety of activities including the sardine run, snorkeling along reef walls, watching dolphins, and diving on wrecks, among others.
In addition to business meetings and networking opportunities, the Philippines booth also held country presentations and distributed information about recent advancements in the Philippine diving industry.
Divers from other countries or regions.
The Philippines was recently honored as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination at the 2022 World Travel Awards held in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the fourth consecutive year it has received the award, surpassing competition from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
As per the National Tourism Development Plan of 2016–2022, the Department of Tourism (DOT) identified other target 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, the UK, Germany, and Russia.
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. Additionally, the Philippine Commission of Sports Scuba Diving, an attached agency of the DOT that oversees marine sports, recently received a budget of P9.53 million for the first time from the national government, aiming to implement a more intensive dive tourism promotion and development program.
“We are thrilled that our national government has been supporting the dive industry, and we are more than ready to welcome dive professionals and enthusiasts from all over the world.” “Our 7,641 islands, tropical climate, friendly locals, diverse marine life, and world-renowned underwater sites await you here,” said Frasco in the same news statement.
The Philippine delegation included dive resorts and operators such as 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.
