The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) has unveiled its flagship initiative, the Philippine Dive Experience, marking a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to bolster its reputation as a global diving hub. The launch of the initiative comes as the Philippines celebrates its crowning as the World’s Leading Dive Destination for the sixth year in a row at the World Travel Awards.
At the event in Anilao, Batangas, Tourism Secretary, Christina Garcia Frasco, said “We’re positioning the Philippines as a global leader in regenerative tourism, rooted in our heritage and identity”.
The initiative was launched in Anilao, Batangas, and was attended by representatives from around the world who were also invited to explore Anilao’s vibrant reefs, including the renowned “LOVE Reef” which symbolises community-led conservation efforts. Anilao was considered the ideal location to launch the Philippine Dive Experience because of its reputation as an ecological hotspot that attracts underwater photographers and marine enthusiasts from around the world.
“Anilao showcases the best of what the Philippines has to offer,” said Frasco. “Its biodiversity and conservation efforts make it a shining example of sustainable tourism.”
At the launch event, the Philippine Department of Tourism announced a series of efforts to enhance dive tourism infrastructure in the country including the installation of hyperbaric chambers at locations nationwide and expanding the destination’s training programs to deliver around 262,000 newly trained tourism professionals. At the event, Tourism Secretary, Frasco, also highlighted the vital role of dive tourism in supporting job creation and conservation with sustainability being at the core of the new strategy.
