Ready to dive? World-renowned diving destination Anilao recently served as the launch point for the Philippine Dive Experience tourism circuit. Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, joined by leaders in the dive and tourism sectors, dive operators, certification agencies, and various diplomats from other countries including the US, France, China, and more took part in celebrating our country’s unparalleled marine biodiversity and its potential to attract global attention.

“At the heart of the Philippine Dive Experience is our President’s vision of transformation for tourism,” shares Frasco. “We’re not interested in recovering only what was lost, but rather in transcending to the rightful place that the Philippines deserves in the global community of tourism nations. A country that prioritizes the sustainability of its destination and the regeneration of its resources while it seeks to reintroduce itself to the world from the strength of its identity, heritage, and culture.”

During the event, Secretary Frasco announced key initiatives to boost dive tourism, including the installation of hyperbaric chambers at strategic dive sites to ensure diver safety and meet international standards. She also highlighted the success of the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) program, which has trained over 262,000 tourism professionals nationwide, including more than 10,000 from the CALABARZON region.

These efforts come as the Philippine dive industry continues to thrive, contributing ₱73 billion in revenue in 2023 and playing a crucial role in sustainable economic growth, livelihood creation, and environmental conservation. Our country has also continued the streak of receiving the title of World’s Leading Dive Destination for six consecutive years at the World Travel Awards.