Why our Dive Industry does not get too much exposure in North America?

[bisugo767]

bttmdwllr, thanks for noticing this thread and taking interest. At least, there might be a chance that all this feedback will help DOT with their marketing efforts in North America. BTW, in case you don't know, there is a major scuba show aimed for the General Public on the US west coast called Scuba Show 2008 (SCUBA Show 2008 - June 21 & 22, 2008. Long Beach Convention Center. THE Diving Event of the Year!). I am planning to attend this one in June and get a feel as to how the Philippines is being promoted over at the West Coast.

I agree about your comment concerning excessive diver pressure which will end up damaging the valuable reefs. I believe no one would like this to happen. When I started the thread, I had the North American diver visitor and the local Pinoys in mind. More tourism means more local jobs. I have seen this work in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico where popular vacation destinations such as Cancun and Cozumel are located. Cancun for example is known as the crowded, party-hardy tourist area. Cozumel, a diver's paradise while Tulum and Xcalak are laid-back, quiet and relaxing vacation areas. In short, there is a something for every kind of traveller. I have always envisioned Palawan as being the Quintana Roo in Asia. If only infrastructure were in place to support resort operations. Mexico established marine parks to protect the reefs around Cozumel and along the Riviera Maya and Costa Maya coast lines from over fishing and diver/swimmer pressure. The Philippines has Tubattaha Reef as a protected marine park which is only accessible by visitors a few months every year. If we can establish more protected areas that limited visitor access, we can control reef destruction by both divers and local fishermen.

My 2 cents worth...again.

Phil (bisugo767)

Hi Jonix,

Yes, I will be printing this thread out and forwarding itto the office of my boss Cynthia carrion and the the Office of Sec Durano.

As far as the DOT is concerned, when it comes to Europe, DIVING is what they are promoting more than the rice terraces, Boracay or Chocolate hills.

This year the DOt will be present in the most number of dive shows in recent memory. So fae for 2008 there is Salon de Plongee where the Philippines, is , believe it or not, the Destination of Choice for the 2008, less than a week later, there will be the Boot show in Germany ( this one has an expensive price tag for participation by dive ops, and it is booked up, then Golden Dolphin-in Moscow-and Expedition Fleet or Explorer biggest foreign guests are now thr Russians--love em love em--good divers, eat a lot , stay a long lonnngg time and spend a lot of money---

Then there's Spain, Australia, China, japan and Dema and the london Dive show. Add Taiwan to that this year. Koreans we dont reallly market to...the Korean owned shops are doing well although they do tend topatronize their own.

We are present in USA but the board is right, more than anything else, its te "terrorist " tag that kills the desire and interest, second the presence of poverty bothers the visitors and third the dynamite fishing that goes on.

But Atlantis, and a couple of other dive ops are actvely promoting the Philippines and there is teh spill over effect.

Honestly, the divers are coming slowly but surely--- but at the end of the day, I dont think I'd ever wantthe number of divers to reach a point where in we will have reefs with no coral because of diver pressure. Still a long way to go, but in places like the Maldives and palau and thailand, it's there and it IS horrid.

 

[bisugo767]

Here is a summary of the numerous feedbacks from various people who responded to this thread. I would say that it is quite an eye opener and it says a lot about why the Philippines does not get too much diver visitors from North America.

In no particular order:
1. Political Instability or the perception of the lack of political stability.
2. Negative travel advisories issued by the U.S. government.
3. Lack of effective dive tourism campaigns tailored for the North American market.
4. Long travel times (from North America). Numerous transfers to reach local destinations.
5. Lack of media exposure to promote various Philippine dive sites and top-site destinations.
6. Lack of guided or escorted and packaged dive travel.
7. Lack of interest among dive shops and operators to actively and aggresively promote their services and Philippine dive sites.
10. Most dive shops or operations are retirement businesses that have no desire to grow.
11. Lack of preserved top-side WWII historical attractions that highlight Philippine-American cooperation/friendship and partnership during the previous war.
12. Lack of family-friendly vacation places.
13. Visible signs of poverty enroute to various travel destination around the country.

If I have missed anything or misunderstood a comment, please let me know and I will edit this post.

A Happy New Year to everyone!

Phil (bisugo767)

 

[Hank49]

let's chum the water even more...

DO we want more american/ north american tourism? i mean, reading the previous posts (and save for those willing to "backpack it" like david, ben, hank and a few more) it appears that many american tourists really prefer the high-roller fancy schmancy tourism destinations more associated with the carribean, jamaica, mexico...


Jag

I dont' think the "high roller" thing has to do with American tourism. It seems to be a natural progression. Belize 25 years ago was more like the old Boracay from what I'm told. Now San Pedro has so much development going in I hardly recognize the place and it's only been 7 years since I lived there.
I haven't been to Puerto Galara but Boracay is certainly changing into a high roller type place (the Shangri La among others) compared to back in the early 90s. There are other big develppments going in near El Nido I hear. Coron has a potential big development going in and I hear some of the old Boracay guys are thinking or relocating there.
And it's all on Korean tourism money.... ???

 

[jonix]

And it's all on Korean tourism money.... ???

from my chat with locals a few months back this seems to be very true. a lot of establishments are k-funded/operated.

 

[pakman]

And it's all on Korean tourism money.... ???

eek, who leaked out of our plans for total domination of the Philippines... muhahaha... j/k We'll have you all speaking Konglish soon my little pretty...

 

[jonix]

eek, who leaked out of our plans for total domination of the Philippines... muhahaha... j/k We'll have you all speaking Konglish soon my little pretty...

imagine kor-ilocano

 

[Zippsy]

Boracay has a Shangri-la? I guess it has changed a tiny bit since 1990. I remember no building over one story and electricity available for an hour a day at best.

 

[jonix]

Boracay has a Shangri-la? I guess it has changed a tiny bit since 1990. I remember no building over one story and electricity available for an hour a day at best.

yes. it's under construction. it's along the main road heading up to fairways & bluewaters. here's a quick snap i took when i saw the shangri-la sign

 

[pakman]

There goes the neighborhood

 

[jonix]

There goes the neighborhood

it gets worse...construction sites to the left and right sides of the road