The Philippines will promote Batangas dive sites in an upcoming international diving industry convention in the US, a vice chairperson of the House Committee on Tourism said on Tuesday.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said Marine Sanctuary Verde Island Passage could boost Philippines tourism after the Covid pandemic.
“The Annual DEMA [Diving Equipment and Marketing Association] is the largest event for companies doing business in scuba diving, ocean water sports and adventure/dive travel industries. It attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals from around the world,” said Luistro, who is set to join the Department of Tourism, headed by Secretary Christina Frasco, in the DEMA Show 2022 from November 1 to 4 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, US.
“This convention is the biggest magnet of tourists whose passion is diving. The Philippines will be marketable here, especially since we are known for our world class beaches, marine sanctuaries and dive sites,” she said.
Luistro said she expects to actively participate in the convention and speak about the Verde Island Passage.
This passage, also known as the VIP, is a strait that separates the Luzon from Mindoro. When marine experts and conservationists talk about the VIP, one would often hear that it is the “center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity.”
The Coral Triangle is a roughly triangular area in the tropical waters around the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. This area contains at least 500 species of reef-building corals in each eco region.
“Ang mga nagda-dive sa VIP ay waring nadadala sa ibang daigdig. Isa itong underwater wonderland ng giant clams at coral reefs, na kung saan napakaraming mga makukulay na reef fishes, humphead wrasses, anthias, eels, nudibranchs, frogfishes, seahorses, hawksbills, olive ridley at green turtles. Karamihan sa mga sea creatures na ito ay dito lamang masisilayan,” added Luistro, who represents the resort towns of Mabini (where Anilao is), Bauan, San Luis, Lobo and Tingloy, in Batangas, where some of the best dive sites in the country are located.
The Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged the Philippine tourism industry. It caused the closure or suspension of operations of hotels, resorts and tourist destinations. It has resulted to the loss of thousands of jobs and livelihood. It contributed to the economic crunch the country is presently experiencing.
“I commend the Department of Tourism, headed by Secretary Frasco, in being very aggressive in promoting the country and welcoming back tourists and visitors to the country. I believe that the sending of this Philippine delegation to the 2022 DEMA would achieve the objective not only of marketing the country’s dive sites. It would also create awareness on our government and local community’s serious and diligent efforts in preserving our wealth of marine resources, highly diverse coral reefs, pristine waters, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coastal environs,” added Luistro.