THE Dapitan City Government is leveling up with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Tourism (DOT) in their strong bid to position the country as the next diving destination for the world to visit.
This came about as Dapitan City has noted that the two agencies have allocated big chunks of their budget participating in worldwide expositions for aquatic and diving destinations “but only promote those resorts in Luzon and Visayas which are already popular in the diving community.”
Dapitan City Tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong said it is a sad fact they discovered during their participation in Diving and Resort Travel Show Hong Kong 2015.
“But despite that, we didn’t let such discouragement kill our spirits to market Dapitan (City),” Agolong said.
Agolong said their concerted efforts during the travel show yielded good result as more than 100 international divers started to arrive in Dapitan City since January.
“Indeed, we are hoping that Dapitan City will attract some more and maintain momentum, hoping that both Departments (DFA and DOT) will take notice to include us in their promotions,” she added.
On April 25, the Philippines was referred to as the “apex of the South East Asian Coral triangle.”
The Philippine Consulate General and the Department of Tourism New York participated at the 2016 Beneath the Sea Travel Show, which was held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, USA, from April 1 to 3 to promote internationally-acclaimed dive and aquatic spots in the Philippines.
The local government of the Dapitan City Tourism Office has also committed to add, increase, and elevate their skills in tourism to make them ready for anything especially if the arriving tourists would ask for a unique souvenir apart from the usual and regular shirts and keyholders.
Agolong said their target is to create life-size statues and custom-made Dapitan dolls through paper masche.
It is hoped to be successful as their facilitator is no other than the world renowned scenographer Rolando de Leon, Agolong added. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)