RP joins int’l dive show in UK
by Patrick Camara Ropeta, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, London | 11/01/2009 10:53 PM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
LONDON - Thousands of underwater enthusiasts gathered at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham late October for one of the biggest diving shows in the world.
The Philippines was among the diving destinations featured in the event, alongside 50 other countries and hundreds of exhibitors.
The Dive Show is a popular event to divers of all levels, as well as underwater photographers, entrepreneurs, explorers and adventurers. It has the latest news and offers in the diving sector directly from manufacturers, service providers and tourism agencies.
The Philippine Department of Tourism brought its Wow Philippines campaign to promote diving sites among the 7,100 islands in the archipelago. They were joined by local diving operators who were able provide useful information to interested parties. Over a hundred divers booked trips to the country as a result of the event.
Some divers at the show have already visited sites in the Philippines, and most of them commented on the “variety of marine life”, as well as their positive experience with “friendly” and “helpful” locals.
The Philippines was the destination prize for the Grand Show Draw at the event, which attracted strong coverage from the show catalogue, Dive Magazine, and the Underwater Channel. Approximately 3000 people entered in the draw.
Courtesy of the Department of Tourism and Worldwide Dive and Sail, the lucky winner will experience an all-inclusive ten-day luxury diving trip worth £7,000. It will involve unlimited diving and a deluxe live-aboard experience on the Philippine Siren, a new fully equipped vessel that sails its guests to exclusive diving sites around the country.
The Philippines is increasingly becoming a key diving destination in Asia. Apart from popular sites in Cebu, Dumaguete and Oriental Mindoro, it boasts one of the best diving sites in the world, Tubbataha - a UNESCO World Heritage Site off the island of Palawan.
“Diving in the Philippines is a special experience because of its rarity, diversity and value for money. Customer satisfaction is always number one, and our guests are spoilt,” said a representative from Wow Philippines.
The Dive Show attracts audiences from all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. Organized by Dive Magazine, it is held annually at large venues in London, Birmingham and Scotland.
Comments