Three of the popular beach resorts in Negros Oriental have taken on the challenge to explore the bustling European market with their participation in the Department of Tourism-led Philippine delegation to the recent 10th Salon de la Plongee sous Marine, in Paris.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano led the Philippine delegation of 10 tourism-related groups, which included Antulang Beach Resort, Atlantis Resort, and Bajura Resort, all in southern Negros Oriental.

The scuba diving exhibit, renowned as one of the largest international diving trade shows and scuba exhibitions held this month in Paris, France, showcased 402 exhibitors from 40 countries, drawing close to 40,000 visitors and more than 200 journalists covering the event.

Durano’s core group for Team Europe included Western, Central, Eastern Europe Attache Marie Venus Tan, PR and Promotions Manager Arnold Gonzales, and Marketing Manager Dakila Gonzales.

The other participants from the Philippines were Georg Bender of Atlantis Resort in Dauin; Yvette Lee  and Gladys Guy of Expedition Fleet (live-aboard company) and Bahura Resort in Dauin; Asia Holidays Travel Agency and Sampaguita Resort in Moalboal, Cebu; Asia Divers Dive Resort and Asia Divers Philippines (distributor of Cressi dive equipment); Abyss Scuba Divers Inc. (specialists in diving expeditions, safaris and cruises);  Calypso Diving & Pinjalo Resort in Boracay; Seaquest Dive Center of Cebu and Bohol; and Marco Vincent Resort in Puerto Galera, Mindoro.

The Negros Oriental-based resorts were represented in Paris by their managers/proprietors; the local government units were also represented by Negros Oriental Board Members Mariant Escaño-Villegas and Erwin Macias.

Annabelle Lee-Adriano of Antulang Beach Resort said that although it was the country's first time to join the exposition, the Philippines took center stage when it was awarded Destination of Choice for 2008.  “The Philippines had one of the best booths there,” she said.

Adriano said the country exhibit, situated near the main entrance, had a massive screen equipped with three projectors, with a five-minute film clip showcasing the country's smallest-to-biggest marine attractions, in line with the theme “XXS bis XXL (roughly translated: From the smallest to the biggest, we've got it all!)”

“The film clips showed the pygmy seahorse as the smallest attraction, and the whale shark as the biggest,” she said.

Other booths featured manufacturers and distributors of dive equipment and accessories, boat builders, artists, and photographers specializing in underwater themes, and dive tour operators from the world over. “There was even a three-fit deep dive pool for anyone who wanted to test a wetsuit,” she recalled.

To drum up attention and traffic to the booth, the Philippines brought over 12 dancers and musicians of the Bayanihan National Folk Dance Co., who performed around the exhibits every half hour. 

“There was a lot of audience participation during the “tinikling.” Our demure Filipino dancers were clearly the crowd favorite,” Adriano said.*IFP

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