MANILA, Philippines — Unknown by many, Southern Leyte is home to an amazing underwater biodiversity, which has remained relatively untouched all these years.
Philippine authorities need only to put in place a system that will ensure proper care and protection for marine life in the area, and this region will present itself to be a potential major tourism attraction for world travelers, particularly divers who travel the world to visit — and experience — different dive sites.
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Philippines joined hands with the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) Korea Office and DOT Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) to host the PADI Korea Dive Familiarization Trip.
Held last June 15 to 21, the trip brought a select group of Korean divers, all PADI Korea members, and diving influencers for a weeklong exploration of Southern Leyte. They were accompanied by representatives from the province of Southern Leyte and the municipality of Padre Burgos.
Padre Burgos Mayor Hermenegildo Culpa welcomed the group and showed them more than just the exquisite dive sites of Leyte, but, more importantly, the spirit of its people.
As participants engaged with local communities, they experienced the warmth and hospitality that define the Filipino travel experience. These meaningful cultural encounters turned the trip into not just a dive tour but a platform for deepening tourism ties between the Philippines and South Korea.
Under the sea in Sogod Bay
The group's journey began with an immersive dive tour of Sogod Bay, where vibrant reefs revealed coral gardens and the macro life of sites like Napantaw North, Max Climax, and Medicare North. The adventure continued on to Pintuyan, a destination popular for whale shark encounters.
From the daytime explorations of Gunter’s Wall, Adrian’s Cove, and Medicare South, the dive tour culminated in a surreal night dive experience at Baluarte. To cap off the trip, the group embarked on an island-hopping experience around Cuatro Islas, where Himokilan, Mahaba, Digyo, and Apid Islands provided the perfect expedition finale.
Adding depth to the dive tour was a special networking dinner in Padre Burgos, where the Korean delegation met with local dive and tourism stakeholders from Blue Deep Resort, Burgos Reef, Southern Leyte Divers, Sogod Bay Scuba Resort, Peter's Dive Resort, and the Provincial Tourism Office of Southern Leyte. The gathering served as a platform for dynamic discussions on marine conservation, sustainable diving, and stronger tourism partnerships not just within Southern Visayas but also including its neighboring regions.
Expanding the Korean dive market
The program builds on the success of previous dive familiarization tours in key destinations, further strengthening TPB’s efforts to position the Philippines as a premier diving destination for the Korean market.
With 1.57 million Korean arrivals in 2024, the Philippines continues to be a favored destination, this time spotlighting Leyte's captivating offerings both above and beneath the waves.
“Following our extensive efforts to promote sustainable diving in Cebu and Dumaguete, we're thrilled to offer our friends from Korea a fresh experience in Leyte,” said TPB chief operating officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.
She added: “This carefully curated tour not only highlights Leyte's incredible marine biodiversity and warm hospitality, but also gives a glimpse of the hidden gems surrounding our 7,641 islands, each one offering an unforgettable, world-class diving experience.”
The Korean dive market boasts of an estimated 1.4 to 1.5 million active divers in 2024, encompassing both skin and scuba diving, an increase from approximately 1.29 million in 2021.
Amid the dynamic tourism landscape, the Philippines continues to be the preferred destination for diving in the Asia Pacific region, with an estimated 170,000 Korean divers visiting the Philippines in 2023. This strong preference positions the Philippines significantly ahead of neighboring dive destinations, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, and the Maldives.
Erwin Balane, tourism attaché at the DOT Korea Office, pointed out the program’s role in shaping market preferences.
“Through this collaboration with TPB, we’re not only showcasing Leyte’s beauty but also strengthening Korea’s travel connection with the Philippines. Leyte’s sustainability and rich marine life align with the values Korean divers care most about,” Balane said.
The recently concluded familiarization trip was made possible through the support of Bai Hotel Cebu and Cebu Pacific Air, with the airline facilitating seamless air travel from the Cebu hub to Southern Leyte.