The Department of Tourism (DOT) said Friday it is setting up more hyperbaric treatment chambers in top diving spots to further enhance and promote safety dive tourism in the Philippines.
“To further strengthen the dive tourism portfolio in the Philippines, the DOT, through our infrastructure arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority [TIEZA], intends to establish five additional hyperbaric chambers in key destinations: Boracay, Camiguin, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Oriental Mindoro. We already broke ground on one, in the world-renowned island destination of Boracay Island,” said DOT Secretary Christina Frasco.
These will supplement the 15 existing hyperbaric chambers across the country, ensuring that the country’s world-class diving sites are not only beautiful but also safe, she said.
Hyperbaric chambers are essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of divers, offering critical treatment for diving-related conditions such as decompression sickness.
The DOT said on top of rave reviews on local dive sites, the Philippines also boasts of a diverse cruise tourism product portfolio.
It said that as of November 2024, 109 cruise ships visited 40 destinations in the Philippines, higher than in neighboring countries that are also considered cruise destinations.
The 40 destinations offer various and unique experiences for cruise passengers, including sun and beach activities, culture and heritage experiences and community immersion activities.
The Philippines also gained popularity and prestige as a prime MICE destination, hosting several high-profile events that showcase its world-class capabilities.
The country hosted the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific, bringing together 600 global delegates to celebrate and harness the power of gastronomy tourism for local communities and sustainability in 2024.
The Philippines also held the 36th Joint Commission Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the Commission for South Asia, further cementing its leadership in regional tourism initiatives.
The country hosted the 31st World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia & Oceania gala ceremony, where it bagged eight prestigious titles, including Asia’s Leading Dive Destination for the sixth consecutive year.
Other notable events included the Seatrade Cruise Asia 2024, the first-ever cruise conference in the Philippines, which welcomed over 350 international stakeholders, and the International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress (IHWTC), gathering delegates from 38 countries to highlight the country’s potential as a health and wellness tourism hub.
