Thailand is receptive to partnering with the Philippines to promote diving destinations in both countries under the "two-countries, one destination" approach.
According to Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Tull Traisorat, the idea would succeed "because it's the nature of the people, they like to cover more than one place, particularly the best diving destinations of the world."
Cruise to paradise
The partnership between the two countries might also be used to boost cruise tourism, which would include Thailand, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian nations, this time under what he called "cruise to paradise islands."
“Those tourists from Europe, from the United States, they travel a long way so they would like to cover more than one country. This is the rationale of the two countries, one destination,” Traisorat said
Entering fruitful partnerships
According to Frasco, the Philippines is "very much willing" to collaborate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and market the diving products in the area.
To further establish the Philippines as a top diving and marine biodiversity exploration destination worldwide, the Department of Tourism (DOT) hosted the Philippine Dive Experience at Anilao last November 28 and 29.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco joined the delegates at LOVE Reef, an artificial structure created to promote coral growth, offer marine species habitat and breeding grounds, and improve shoreline protection.
More than 20 diplomats from different nations attended the event, which gave them the chance to see the colorful underwater scenery of Anilao.
