It consistently leads as a macro diving destination in several global surveys of world-renowned dive media such as Scuba Diving Magazine’s Readers Choice Awards and Sport Diver. (File photo: Jakob Owens/Unsplash)
MANILA – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Wednesday vowed to support the continued development of dive tourism in Anilao, Batangas, otherwise known as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines.
During the stakeholders meeting hosted by Mabini Mayor Noel Luistro, Romulo-Puyat encouraged the dive establishment operators, to “strictly uphold” health and safety protocols as well as to work together to improve the readiness of their area for dive tourism during the quarantine period and onwards to the new normal.
Tourism chief Bernadette-Romulo Puyat
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
During the stakeholders meeting hosted by Mabini Mayor Noel Luistro, Puyat encouraged the business sector specifically the dive establishment operators to strictly uphold health and safety protocols, and work together to improve the readiness of Anilao for dive tourism under the new normal.
The dive industry, as part of the tourism sector, also bore the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis.
“The Department is hard at work not only for the slow but sure reopening of our destinations but also on the persistent but guarded development of the dive tourism industry,” Puyat said in her opening remarks.