• Filed under dchs88
  Apr 20

  Davao diving sites seen as potential tourism industry
  
  PIA Press Release
  04/20/2006

  Davao City (20 April) — Diving is a potential tourism industry, however there’s a need for the government to assess the sites in the Davao region and declare from among the more than a dozen sites in the Davao Gulf as the ideal sites for the activity.

  Regional executive director Ricardo Calderon of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR XI) said a profiling of the sites must first be undertaken, however a sizeable amount is needed to do it

  He admitted that his office do not have the money to complete the profiling and that they are collaborating with other sectors to finish the project.

  He said they only started the first project this year at the “Big Ligid” which is the site of the 3rd Dive the Gulf 2006 which will be held this week.

  “We do not have enough resources and this kind of activity falls under their protected area program of which we get only P10 million to maintain, sustain and protect the already declared protected areas of the region,” he said.

  Department of Tourism (DOT XI) regional director Sonia Garcia explained that not one diving sites in Mindanao was included in the earlier published diving sites in the Philippines because the sites here still needs to be developed.

  “What we claim to be dive sites are really real dive sites. We must be ready as we do not want to fool the tourists when they come,” she said.

  “Hilaw pa ang mga dive sites natin meaning there must be a declaration from the DENR that these are fit for diving sites,” she said.

  But even then she said there are already infrastructure introduced to some of the sites.

  The Davao-Palau route, she said adds a plus to Davao because people who come and dive here has the opportunity to fly here and get more value of their money.

  Garcia is also looking at getting more tourists to come to the city with their tie up with the Asian Spirit that regularly fly to Palau from Davao.

  She said among those eager to come are the Overseas Filipino Workers numbering about 5,000 who are working or doing livelihood in Palau.

  She is also looking for some potential diving enthusiasts from Palau who are interested in coming to Davao and get more value for their money.

  She said divers spends about $500 for a diving trip for a Manila Palau package that only includes an overnight stay whereas the Davao-Palau package at the same amount includes hotel accommodation with breakfast for three days and two nights stay plus transportation.

  “It will be a value added plus to Davao as a diving destination if this will be fully developed,” she said.

  In fact the Blue Corner Dive Sites in Palau Garcia said generated $1 million in 2005 and they already established the island as one dive destination. (PIA/pdbanzon)

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