PH diving tourism earns P73B, nearly twice ’22 income

‘STRATEGIC LOCATION’ A diver takes photos of Camiguin’s underwater sights during the island province’s first Dive Festival in 2019. —DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM PHOTO

The diving tourism industry contributed P73 billion to the Philippine economy in 2023, almost double the P37 billion it generated in 2022.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco gave this economic update on Friday during the opening of this year’s Philippine International Dive Expo (Phidex) at World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Frasco said the country could look forward to more revenues from diving tourism as the government aims to promote the Philippines as the “World’s Premier Dive Destination.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said earlier that diving has become one of the “priority tourism products” of President Marcos’ administration—with the Philippines already consistently awarded for diving.

The country’s latest distinction is world’s leading dive destination, conferred last year by World Travel Awards.

Attached agencies

The DOT said it has introduced different festivals and programs to boost diving tourism in several regions, including the inaugural Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue in Cebu in September last year.

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

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), a government corporation under the DOT, said it is committed to provide more hyperbaric chambers—the equipment used to treat decompression sickness in scuba diving.

This is part of efforts to ensure a safe experience for divers, Tieza said.

The DOT said these equipment will be set up in “strategic locations” across the country—including Boracay, Camiguin, Daanbantayan in Cebu, Dumaguete and Puerto Galera.

READ: Marcos: PH to elevate standing as diving, biodiversity hotspot

Early this month, Frasco issued Department Order No. 2024-0016, which mandates the creation of a technical working group called the “Dive Committee,” to tackle the challenges of diving tourism facing the DOT and its attached agencies.

Besides Tieza, the Tourism Promotions Board and the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving will be tasked with preparing a road map for diving tourism.

Global representation

The expo on Friday sought to strengthen networking activities, such as “business-to-business meetings,” dive conferences, dive travel exchange and dive exhibits.

The DOT said among those that confirmed their attendance at the business-to-business meetings are dive organizations and companies from China, Taiwan, Japan, France, Israel, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, South Korea and Qatar.