UNDER THE SEA. A diving site in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. The Philippines has once again secured the title of Asia’s “leading dive destination" after bagging the award at the prestigious 2023 World Travel Awards. (Photo courtesy of DOT)
PH | The Philippines is named Asia’s best place to dive | MANILA – The Philippines won the title of Asia’s “leading dive destination” at the annual 2023 World Travel Awards (WTA), the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Thursday.
At the most important WTA Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2023 in Vietnam on Sept. 6, the country won the title for the fifth year in a row.
“The Philippines’ fifth win in a row as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination shows that our country is loved by divers and tourists from all over the world for its unmatched beauty and mega biodiversity,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.
Frasco said that this shows that the Philippines is committed to developing tourism in a way that is good for the environment and for the people who work in the tourist industry.
“From our ridges to our reefs, you will never run out of reasons to love the Philippines,” she said.
The WTA Asia’s Leading Dive Destination 2023 trophy was given to DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano. It was given based on public votes and confirmation from the group’s team of travel professionals.
At the WTA Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2023, the following private tourist players in the Philippines also won important awards:
Okada Manila is the best casino resort in Asia.
Discovery Shores Boracay is the best beach resort in the Philippines.
Travelite Travel and Tours Co. (Leading Destination Management Company in the Philippines in 2023)
Seda Hotels is the largest hotel chain in the Philippines.
Regional winners, runners-up, and winners from the previous year are all eligible for the WTA’s World version, which will have its big awards night in November in Muscat, Oman.
The WTA was started in 1993 and is now known around the world as the “ultimate mark of excellence” in the tourism and hospitality businesses.
To help diving grow in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) set up the first-ever dive committee to work with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, and the Philippine Commission for Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) to develop dive products that work well together.
The DOT will also hold the first-ever Philippine Dive Dialogue in Cebu next week with dive stakeholders from all over the country. This will bring together the efforts of the national government, local governments, and business sector partners.
On top of this, TIEZA wants to build more hyperbaric chambers by 2024 to improve safety standards for scuba diving in key dive spots like Dumaguete and Daanbantayan in Cebu.
The DOT has also started its own dive expo called the Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX). It is the only dive show in the world that combines a dive travel exchange, a business-to-business meeting programme, dive conferences and seminars, exhibition booths, and familiarisation tours in key and emerging Philippine dive destinations.
The fourth PHIDEX is set to happen in February of 2024. (via PNA)
