DoT: Dive tourism earned P73B in 2023

PHILIPPINE Dive Tourism pumped P73 billion into the country’s economy in 2023, inspiring the Department of Tourism (DoT) to focus more on the development and promotion of the diving industry.

During the opening ceremony of the Philippine International Dive Expo (Phidex) 2024 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco reiterated DoT’s commitment to sustainable tourism development projects.

“As one of the most megabiodiverse countries in the world, we are home to more than 500 species of corals and 2,000 species of fish. Therefore, this distinction for the Philippines is something we take to heart with a firm commitment to ensuring not just the marketability but, more importantly, the sustainability of our dive industry,” Frasco said.

In 2023, dive tourism contributed more than P73 billion to the country’s economy, nearly doubling the industry’s earnings of P37 billion in 2022.

“United under the guidance and visionary leadership of our President, we can look forward to yielding additional revenue from this industry, reinforcing the Philippine position as the World’s Premier Dive Destination and tourism’s role as now one of the strongest pillars of our economy, providing livelihood and employment for millions of Filipinos,” Frasco said.

Recognizing the potential of dive tourism, the DoT has taken strong steps to develop and market the industry.

In addition to setting up the Phidex, the department launched a number of diving festivals and activities to promote dive tourism, including the successful first Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue (PTDD) held in Cebu in September 2023.

“We have also expanded our dive tourism offerings to emerging and lesserknown destinations, bringing our total to approximately 120 dive destinations across the Philippines today,” Frasco said.

Phidex 2024 will provide extensive networking opportunities for dive decision-makers, communities, and individuals over three days, including valueadded components such as the Dive Travel Exchange (Travex) business-to-business meetings, Dive Conference, and Dive Exhibit featuring the country’s best dive offerings.

The DoT will also arrange post-Phidex familiarization trips for foreign dive operators and invite media to highlight the country’s abundance of world-class diving destinations and experiences.