The Philippines was awarded as the Best Dive Destination during the Diving, Resort, and Travel (DRT) show in Malaysia last February 24-26, 2023.
The country bested four other countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and Maldives) at the largest diving expo in Asia which provides industry stakeholders greater support and encourages more people to become passionate divers to champion marine ecology.
“The recent back-to-back wins for the Philippines highlight the beauty and the blessings our country has been endowed with, and we take great inspiration from our diving communities and dive stakeholders as we continue the collaborative work of ensuring not only the marketability but also the sustainability of our destinations,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.
To note, the Philippines was awarded World’s Leading Dive Destination in 2022 and is also defending its title this year as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination at the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA). The title has been held by the country for four straight years from 2019 to 2022.
The tourism chief said the DOT will continue its efforts to develop and promote the Philippines as an ideal destination for all travelers, with the aim to enhance the tourist experience, strengthen and transform the tourism industry from the ground up, and with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. reiterating the important role of tourism in the country’s economic development post-pandemic.
Meanwhile, The Philippines’ co-exhibitors during the expo included Lalaguna Villas Luxury Dive Resort & Spa (Puerto Galera), Fisheye Divers (Boracay), Dolphinlee Aquatic (Malaysia-based dive agent), Moby Tek Dive (Malaysia-based dive agent), Kokay’s Maldito Dive Resort (Malapascua), Scandi Divers (Puerto Galera), and the country’s flag-carrier Philippine Airlines.
