12 January 2019, Dubai, UAE --- The Philippines participated in the Middle East Dive and Fish Expo held at the Dubai World Trade Center on 10-11 January 2019. The exhibit is a gathering for the top local and international diving and fishing brands, retailers, and companies, divers and fishermen and enthusiasts. This is the first time the Philippines is participating in this event as our tourism strategy recalibrates its focus to include marketing the Philippines as a diving destination.

PH Consul General in Dubai Paul Raymund Cortes welcomed the PH delegation which included Raymund Glen Agustin, Head of the Office of Product and Market Development, DOT, and two popular diving resorts based in Anilao, Batangas – Pier Uno Dive Resorts and Crystal Blue Resorts. The DOT has regularly participated in Dubai’s annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) scheduled every April. In 2016 and 2017, the Philippines’ TIEZA also participated in Dubai’s Annual Investment Meeting.

Consul General Cortes also invited members of the local media and social media influencers to spread awareness of the Philippine participation as it works on a more aggressive campaign on diving, due to the comparative advantage of the Philippines in terms of ecotourism. The Philippines has been called as the center of the center of marine biodiversity by respected scientific journals and publications. 

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