DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco
Sec. Frasco affirms DOT support for PH dive tourism industry
AS this year’s Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) opens its doors guests and visitors at the World Trade Center Manila, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco affirmed the Department’s support for the country’s dive tourism industry.
“Under the President’s directive, we have launched several programs such as the very first Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue on various festivals across our regions. We have also expanded our dive tourism offerings to emerging and lesser known destinations, bringing our total to approximately 120 dive destinations across the Philippines today,” Secretary Frasco said.
The DOT will be adding as well five hyperbaric chambers in Camiguin, Puerto Galera, Boracay Island, Dumaguete, Malapascua in Daanbantayan Island in Cebu.
Addressing guests and participants during the opening ceremony, Secretary Frasco also thanked industry partners for helping shape the country’s dive tourism industry.
“I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our exhibit partner, Underwater 360, organizer of ADEX and to all the participants, our fellow ocean lovers, dive enthusiasts, exhibitors, speakers and buyers. Your shared love and dedication to advancing the Philippine diving industry has helped shape this groundbreaking event,” she said.
PHIDEX is the only dive show in the world that combines a business to business meeting program, a dive travel exchange, with conferences and seminars, exhibition groups and familiarization tours to key and emerging Philippine dive destinations.
Meanwhile, the PHIDEX 2024 opening ceremony was joined by Ambassador of Malaysia Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Ambassador of Thailand Tull Traisorat, House Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, Eastern Samar Governor Ben P. Evardone, and AIDEX Chief Executive Officer John Thet.
