Manila, Philippines — Senate Committee on Tourism chair Senator Nancy Binay headlined the opening of the Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX), the country’s first and only international dive expo, held last Sept. 20-22, at Conrad Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
Reinforcing the Philippines’ esteemed position as a topnotch dive travel and dive business destination in the world, PHIDEX gathered dive travel and trade stakeholders, equipment manufacturers, as well as world-renowned dive experts, scientists, marine conservationists, underwater photographers and videographers to present innovative ideas, network with leading dive operators, and impart their knowledge and ideas about sustainable diving practices.
Guinness World Record holding scuba divers Ahmed Gabr and Faisal Jawad Hashim Al-Rubaye was joined by more than 20 renowned international and local dive speakers and advocates to share their expertise on new and creative approaches in the areas of sustainable diving, marine science, and responsible underwater photography and videography in a series of interactive seminars and presentations.
Panel discussions with marine and ocean conservationists, the academe, government stakeholders and non-government organizations also tackled marine conservation and provide viable solutions to combat plastic pollution, including a screening of professional mermaid Odessa Bugarin’s plastic pollution music video Gunaw and mermaid instructor Yolanda Yao’s underwater movie Snake Sisters.
Over 40 international dive buyers from DOT-identified markets such as the United States of America, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Russia, Netherlands, the Middle East, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Israel, Indonesia, India, France, Denmark, China, Canada, and Belgium attended the three-day dive expo to conduct business meetings with Philippine dive stakeholders.
Cementing the country’s image as a must-experience, diverse dive destination in high-yielding dive markets around the world, the two-day business-to-business (B2B) meetings between the international dive travel trade and Philippine dive operators happened simultaneously with the dive conference to enable international dive buyers to directly establish business linkages with the country’s premier dive resorts and dive centers.
PHIDEX also showcased trade and educational seminars and diving exhibits, including a 270-square-meter Philippine pavilion which featured the country’s foremost dive destinations including Anilao, Batangas, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Coron and Tubbataha, Palawan, Malapascua and Moalboal in Cebu, Balicasag, Bohol, and Southern Leyte.
For more information regarding PHIDEX, please visit the official event website – phidex.asia.
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