The Philippines made waves in the world of diving with its captivating underwater scenes, drawing diving aficionados and industry professionals alike to the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Show at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, from November 14 to 17, 2023.
Headed by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) USA, the nation reaffirmed its standing as a premier diving spot on the global platform, boasting a noteworthy achievement of Php306.1M in sales. This marked a staggering 60% surge from the previous year’s participation in the DEMA Show 2022 held in Orlando, Florida.
Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, TPB Chief Operating Officer, expressed pride in the Philippines’ recognition as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards 2023, a title held consecutively for five years since 2019. Leveraging this accolade, the country actively promotes diving as a pivotal tourism product, particularly targeting the American market through the DEMA Show.
“We are honored to maintain our status as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards for five consecutive years, which is a testament to our commitment. Harnessing this achievement, we are seizing every opportunity to highlight diving as a key aspect of the Philippines’ tourism,” stated Nograles.
The substantial surge in leads from the previous year solidified the Philippines’ position as a top-tier global diving destination. Nograles warmly welcomed the world to explore the Philippines, home to some of the planet’s finest dive sites.
DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation Coordination & Resource Generation Shahlimar Hofer Tamano led the delegation, joined by DOT Regional Directors Marites Castro and Herbie Aguas, along with Philippine Commission on Sports SCUBA Diving Executive Director Marco Angelo Ancheta and other representatives from DOT and TPB Philippines. Consul Robert Romero of the Philippine Honorary Consulate – Louisiana also showed support for the delegation.
The Philippines booth offered visitors an immersive experience in the country’s diverse marine offerings, showcasing everything from the mesmerizing sardine run to thrilling wreck diving adventures. The focus was on strategic B2B networking and informative presentations, highlighting recent developments in the Philippine diving industry.
Supported by 16 private sector companies, including renowned dive resorts and operators like Atlantis Dive Resorts & Liveaboards, Kokays Maldito Dive Resort, Magic Resorts Philippines, and Lalaguna Villas Luxury Dive Resort & Spa, the Philippines exhibited its top dive sites in Batangas, Puerto Galera, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Palawan, along with the support of the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines.
In 2023, the Philippines continued to receive acclaim as the Best Dive Destination by the Dive, Resort and Travel Show in Taiwan and Malaysia, as well as earning the title of Asia’s Best Dive Destination by the World Travel Awards.
