Philippines is Asia's Leading Dive Destination for fifth straight year

The Philippines once again clinched the “Asia’s Leading Dive Destination” award at the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA).

This marks the fifth consecutive year of the country earning the title.

The Department of Tourism announced the happy news on Wednesday, following the WTA Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2023 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

Tourism chief Christina Garcia Frasco said, “The Philippines’ fifth consecutive win as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination further affirms the unparalleled beauty and mega biodiversity of our country loved by divers and tourists all over the world.”

Last year, the Philippines bagged three awards at WTA including Asia’s Leading Dive Destination, Asia’s Leading Beach Destination, and Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction with Intramuros City.

Image courtesy of Philippines Department of Tourism

According to the tourism department, the award was based on “public votes and validation from the group’s panel of travel professionals.”

It also noted that regional awardees, along with runners-up and previous year’s winners, are qualified for WTA’s World edition in Oman this November.

The Department of Tourism (DOT), through its infrastructure arm, TIEZA, eyes the installation of additional hyperbaric chambers that will improve scuba diving safety standards in strategic dive locations, such as Dumaguete and Daanbantayan in Cebu, by 2024.

The DOT has also launched its own dive expo brand, the Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX), the world’s only dive show that combines a dive travel exchange, a business-to-business (B2B) meeting program, dive conferences and seminars, exhibition booths, and familiarisation tours to key and emerging Philippine dive destinations. The fourth edition of PHIDEX is scheduled for February 2024.

Philippines Department of Tourism official website: LINK