PH Tourism promotes dive spots, PAL offers luggage allowance for divers

DUBAI: The Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) participated in the recent Middle East Dive & Fish Expo (MEDFE) held at Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) and promoted the country’s world-class dive spots, among them Anilao in Batangas, which annually holds an underwater photography competition participated in by enthusiasts from around the world.

To this end, the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, offers additional luggage allowance for divers visiting the Philippines, according to Agnes Pagaduan, PAL country manager in the UAE.

Glen Agustin, DOT Chief Tourism Operations Officer and Officer In-Charge, for his part told The Filipino Times the photo competition named, Anilao Underwater Shootout “brings the world together to the Philippines for some productive activity like photography underwater.”

PAL, he said, is the event’s partner airline. Two private sector participants from Anilao, joined the DOT delegation: Crystal Blue Resort and Pier Uno.

Agustin also enjoined overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE to try the Philippines’ various dive spots when on a holiday, saying there are a lot of places aside from Anilao like Puerto Princesa and Coron in Palawan; Cebu; and Dumaguete on Negros Island that have rich marine life.

Agustin said other upcoming destinations are Romblon, Misamis Oriental, Southern Leyte, Sarangani, Siargao, Ticao Island, Camiguin and Buruanga.

The Philippines is at the core of the Coral Triangle, a global centre of marine biodiversity. Other neighboring countries that forms the triangle are Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.

Running on its fourth edition, MEDFE, held Jan. 11 and 12, is the largest exhibition of its kind in the Gulf region.

(Dive photos courtesy of Mike Bartick)