Philippines hailed ‘best’ dive destination in Asia dive expo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines was awarded as “best” diving destination by a group of foreign diving enthusiasts.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported the country was hailed as Best Dive Destination during the Diving, Resort and Travel Show in Malaysia last Feb. 24 to 26.

The Philippines defeated Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Maldives in getting the recognition from what was considered as “the largest diving expo in Asia,” the agency said in its statement yesterday.

The DOT added the Philippines has been awarded as the “World’s Leading Dive Destination” during last year’s World Travel Awards, as well as “Asia’s Leading Dive Destination” from the same group from 2019 to 2022.

The “back-to-back win” for the country “highlights 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,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.

“The DOT will continue its efforts to develop and promote the Philippines as an ideal destination for all travelers,” she added.

Frasco also said the agency would work on “enhancing tourist experience (and) strengthening and transforming the tourism industry from the ground up,” which reiterated the declaration of President Marcos about tourism having an “important role in the country’s economic recovery post-pandemic.”