DOT eyes making PH ultimate diving destination

The Department of Tourism (DOT) aims to make the Philippines a hub for an “ultimate diving tourism experience,” targeting new foreign markets.

The DOT has developed “other viable segments of dive tourism, such as technical diving and freediving,” DOT spokesman Benito Bengzon Jr. said in a statement yesterday.

The said matter would be discussed during business-to-business (B2B) meetings between local and foreign businesses focusing on diving, he added, which the agency would facilitate during the Dive Resort Travel (DRT) Show Philippines “to take advantage of the expo’s huge attendance of prospective markets.” The DRT Show will be held from Sept. 7 to 9 at the SM Megatrade Hall, Mandaluyong City.

The agency “looks forward to the arrival of some 100 dive travel agents, operators and media from opportunity markets including France, Italy, Spain, the Nordic Region, Middle East and India,” he added.

The Nordic Region refers to the countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

During the show, the DOT would host the “Dive Travel Mart,” where the agency explained, “local stakeholders like dive centers, shops and resorts will sit down with foreign dive tour operators and travel agents for business-to-business meetings,” Bengzon noted.

After the said event, the DOT would also host a fiveday, four-night familiarization tour where participants can do diving in some of the country’s select diving destinations: Anilao in Batangas; Puerto Galera in Mindoro; Dumaguete in Negros Oriental; Bohol; Malapascua and Moalboal in Cebu; Siquijor; and Southern Leyte.

“Through the Dive Travel Mart, we aim to strengthen the Philippines’ position as a world-class dive travel and business hub, where everyone can experience first-hand dive products and services, at the same time, find tour dive sites accessible,” said Bengzon.

The DRT Show, according to the agency, will feature diving business exhibits from 48 countries, with the Philippines housing around “50 local sellers representing estabishments in various dive destinations all over the archipelago.”