PH Diving Tourism Surges, Generating P73 Billion – Nearly Double the 2022 Revenue
DIVING TOURISM IN PH – The income generated by diving tourism in the Philippines saw a notable increase, reaching a total of P73 billion.
At the opening of the Philippine International Dive Expo (Phidex) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco revealed that the diving tourism sector significantly contributed P73 billion to the Philippine economy in 2023, almost doubling the P37 billion generated in 2022.
Emphasizing the government’s efforts to promote the Philippines as the “World’s Premier Dive Destination,” Frasco anticipated a rise in revenues from diving tourism.
Based on a report from Inquirer, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has underscored the importance of diving as a focal point of the administration, leading to consistent recognition of the Philippines for its diving attractions. The country secured the title of the world’s leading dive destination at the World Travel Awards last year. To support diving tourism, the DOT introduced various festivals and initiatives, including the inaugural Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue held in Cebu in September last year.
Frasco mentioned the expansion of dive tourism offerings to emerging destinations, bringing the total to approximately 120 dive spots across the Philippines. The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), a government entity under the DOT, expressed commitment to enhancing diver safety by increasing the availability of hyperbaric chambers. These chambers will be strategically placed in locations such as Boracay, Camiguin, Daanbantayan in Cebu, Dumaguete, and Puerto Galera.
In line with this, Tourism Secretary Frasco issued Department Order No. 2024-0016 earlier this month, establishing a “Dive Committee.” This committee, which includes Tieza, the Tourism Promotions Board, and the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, is tasked with developing a roadmap to address challenges faced by diving tourism within the DOT and its affiliated agencies.
The recent expo focused on strengthening networking activities, including business-to-business meetings, dive conferences, dive travel exchange, and dive exhibits. The DOT reported confirmation of participation from numerous dive organizations and companies from countries like China, Taiwan, Japan, France, Israel, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, South Korea, and Qatar.
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