PHILIPPINES: Best-kept Secret Destination

More and more diving enthusiasts are discovering the Philippines as the best-kept secret destination as unraveled in Dive Resort Travel (DRT) PH Show at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said, “The second edition of the Dive Resort Travel (DRT) PH Show is certainly another feather in the cap of Philippines tourism, a solid vote of confidence that should position the country at the heart of diving in Asia. We must, therefore, own it and put our uniquely Filipino brand to it.”

From 9-11 September 2016, this second edition of the DRT PH Show promises to be one of the largest gathering of diving aficionados, marine conservationists, and underwater environmentalists, including 80 international buyers.

DRT PH 2016 registered first-time buyers from India, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, and the Middle East for a series of by-invitation-only business-to-business (B2B) meetings.

DOT Undersecretary for Media Affairs and Public Advocacy Katherine de Castro said the exposure would hopefully increase the country’s meager 1.7 percent market share of the 7.3 million active divers worldwide.

“It is time for our marine biodiversity to shine as the Philippines becomes a preferred diving destination, offering the richest concentration of marine life in the entire planet,” said De Castro, a diving enthusiast herself.

To ensure success of the event, the Department of Tourism (DOT) partnered once again with Shanghai-based LX Development Group (LXDG) for this second edition of DRT PH Show last weekend.

The trade show features 60 top-level exhibitors and over a hundred booths from the leading dive equipment manufacturers, water sport equipment manufacturers, dive resorts, national tourism organizations (NTOs), marine conservation and diving organizations, a Philippine underwater photo competition, and a five-day post familiarization tour for select buyers.

Jason Chong, DRT Expo CEO, envisions the Philippines as “a very good market for travel business and resort business in the next few years.”