Thailand open to PH collab as ‘two states, one dive destination’

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Thailand is open to the idea of forging collaboration with the Philippines to boost the two nations’ dive destinations under the “two-countries, one destination” concept.

Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Tull Traisorat said the concept would work “because it’s the nature of the people, they like to cover more than one place, particularly the best diving destinations of the world.”

“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 in an interview on Friday during the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) inaugural Philippine Dive Experience in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas.

Traisorat is confident this specific product would attract tourists, both locals and other foreign.

“From Phi Islands, they can continue to Cebu to see whale sharks and Sumilon or the Kawasan Falls. They can even continue to Palau as well, so maybe three countries-one destination, before they go back to the US through Palau,” he said.

This concept, Traisorat said, could also apply to cruise tourism to cover both Thailand and the Philippines as well as other Southeast Asian countries, this time under what he said could be called “cruise to paradise islands”.

“Like the cruise lines doing the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, they cover several European countries. So, this is the idea of having the cruise products and the two countries-one destination,” he added.

The envoy said collaboration with private stakeholders, including airlines and local tour operators, is another crucial element.

Cebu Pacific earlier launched four new routes between Thailand and the Philippines, including direct flights from Manila to Chiang Mai, cutting travel time by up to eight hours.

“I look forward to having more air connectivity between Thailand and the Philippines, particularly the Cebu-Phuket; El Nido-Samui, or even Clark-U Tapao,” Traisorat said.

Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino also floated the idea of establishing a regional initiative similar to the Philippine Dive Experience, involving Southeast Asia’s tourism powerhouses.

“Events like this can be also transplanted across the region to ensure that we can also promote our own country and at the same time promote our friendly neighbor country,” he told reporters.

In a separate interview, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the Philippines is “very much willing” to form partnerships with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and promote the region’s dive offerings.

“On the part of the Philippines, we welcome opportunities to collaborate with our neighbors in the ASEAN so that the visitors that go to their countries may come to the Philippines. And those that come to the Philippines, we are very much willing to cooperate with them to provide opportunities,” she said.

The DOT held the Philippine Dive Experience in Anilao on Nov. 28 and 29 to reinforce the Philippines’ position as a premier global destination for diving and marine biodiversity exploration.

The event gathered more than 20 diplomats from various countries, allowing them to explore Anilao’s vibrant underwater landscapes.