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Thursday, February 09, 2006
Dive fair opens today, calls for support to RP tourism
Since boatmen and fisherfolk in areas with dive spots are among those that benefit from scuba diving water sport, they should help the government in protecting the country’s coral reefs.
“The more divers, the bigger demand for food and transport services in the localities where there are diving spots. Boatmen will make a living with their services like rental of their boats,” said Jetro Lozada of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).
At this, the first Dive Trade Fair in Cebu was born.
Dubbed as “Plan Ur Dive, Dive Ur Plan,” this four-day dive trade fair that starts today at the Ayala Activity Center Cebu is a marketing thrust of the scuba diving industry, the Department of Tourism, PTA, Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving and the private sector to promote the Philippines as the best dive destination in Asia.
A customized 20-footer scuba tank will be in Ayala today for water enthusiasts to try out scuba diving for free.
Lozada also said Chinese, Japanese, Korean and other foreign divers and water enthusiasts are among the fair’s top target market.
Local market
“But we are also trying to attract local market. That’s why we are doing this,” added Lozada, who is the fair’s project manager, during a press briefing yesterday.
Scuba World manager John Peter Melendres told Sun.Star Cebu that the business of scuba diving is not just about making profit but encouraging people to dive and see the underwater.
“If they could see what we have, then they would know and be encouraged to help us protect and preserve our coral reefs,” he said.
He added that scuba diving should be made affordable to everyone to encourage the locals to avail themselves of it.
Meanwhile, Dan Johan-son, a Manila-based certified diver from California, said the Philippines has “some of the most spectacular diving spots in the entire world.”
“That is why the diving industry continues to grow despite economic and political challenges,” he said.
Though some areas have been heavily damaged by aggressive fishing practices, the local and national government has stepped in to protect underwater treasures, Johanson said.
The Apo Island of Negros and Pescador Island of Cebu are among the country’s prime dive spots, he said. (ALC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 9, 2006 issue)
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