The Philippines generated over PHP80 million in sales leads during its stint at last month’s Salon de la Plongée Sous-Marine in Paris.
According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), this year’s leads from the annual Paris dive show rose 43 percent compared to the PHP56 million sales leads secured last year.
During the travel trade show held at the Parc des Expositions from 8th to 11th January,, the Philippine delegation showcased iconic dive sites in the country such as Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Bohol, Anilao, Cebu, Puerto Galera, Dumaguete, Ticao Island and Southern Leyte.
Among the Philippine companies and agencies that participated in the show were Seadoors Liveaboard, Sea Explorers, Solitude Acacia Resort, Ticao Island Resort, Blue Lagoon Dive Resort, El Galleon Resort/Asia Divers, M/Y Resolute, Thalatta Resort, Casalay Boutique Villas and Dive Resort, Atmosphere Resorts & Spa, Magic Resorts Philippines, Abyssworld Philippines, Inc, Peter’s Dive Resort, and the Sogod Bay Scuba Resort.
The event was attended by a diverse array of diving industry professionals, including associations, boats, diving centres, insurance providers, manufacturers, distributors, media, tourism offices, training organizations, dive operators, and travel agents.
Immersive in more ways than one
The Philippine pavilion featured immersive underwater photography panels from 12 DOT-accredited dive establishments to put spotlight on the Philippines' rich marine biodiversity, sustainability initiatives, and conservation-driven tourism programs.
Southern Leyte’s Sogod Bay Dive Sites took centerstage as the Pavilion’s Featured Destination, showcasing Eastern Visayas’ growing profile as a conservation-oriented dive tourism hub.
According to the Philippine Embassy in Paris, there were an estimated 350,000 scuba divers in France in 2024, ten percent of whom travel abroad for diving with tour operators.
