Philippines secures P165 million in sales at resort, travel show

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippines secured P165 million in sales leads and bookings during the three-day Dive Resort and Travel (DRT) Show Hong Kong 2025.

According to the Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong, the country registered a highly successful participation in the event, held recently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Led by the Philippine Department of Tourism-Shanghai, the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and the Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong, the 20-member delegation of dive resorts, live-aboards and tourism operators generated a total of HK$21.45 million or P165,034,052.17 in sales leads and bookings.

“This strong performance underscores the Philippines’ position as one of Asia’s premier dive destinations and highlights the effectiveness of the country’s participation in the region’s largest dive expo,” the consulate said.

Founded in 2009, the DRT Show has grown into the most international dive exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing together dive equipment brands, travel operators, training systems, underwater imaging creators and ocean-culture organizations.

The Hong Kong edition continues to serve as a hub for industry exchange, featuring exhibitors from the Maldives, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Japan, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, with strong participation from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The Philippine pavilion highlighted the country’s diverse dive destinations, from the macro-rich waters of Anilao and the vibrant reefs of Puerto Galera to established dive regions such as Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Masbate, Palawan and Coron.

It presented a wide portfolio that included boutique coastal resorts, luxury villas, community-based operators and internationally recognized liveaboards.

Among those represented were Buceo Anilao Beach & Dive Resort, Casa Escondida Anilao Resort & Dive Center, Porto Novo Anilao Dive and Leisure Resort and Solitude Acacia Resort in Batangas; Garden of Eden Dive Resort, Edgewater Dive & Spa Resort, Lalaguna Villas Luxury Dive Resort & Spa and Casalay Boutique Villas and Dive Resort in Puerto Galera, Mindoro; Silver Reef Dive Resort, ALDIVE Resort, and Atmosphere Resorts & Spa in Dauin, Negros Oriental; Kasai Village Dive Resort in Moalboal and Slam’s Garden Dive Resort in Malapascua, Cebu; Club Aquasports in Panglao, Bohol; Easy Diving Philippines in Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Sea Explorers Philippines with multiple bases across the Visayas; Ticao Island Resort in Masbate; Narayana Philippine Liveaboard in Palawan; Earth Explorers Travel and Tours as a national operator and Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards with properties in Dumaguete and Puerto Galera.

To complement the exhibition, Philippine organizers hosted the Philippine Dive Night at the consulate general’s OFW Global Centre.

The networking event followed a structured business-to-business format, allowing all 20 Philippine dive resorts to meet with 20 Hong Kong-based Chinese tour operators through a series of timed exchanges.

Around 100 to 120 participants attended the event, evenly divided between Philippine sellers and Hong Kong buyers, reflecting strong interest in expanding dive tourism partnerships.

In his remarks, consul general Romulo Victor Israel Jr. cited the Philippines’ recent World Travel Awards wins at the Grand Final in Bahrain, including being named World’s Leading Dive Destination for the seventh consecutive year, as proof of the country’s strategic efforts to strengthen its diving ecosystem.