Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace H. Durano said these projects would be completed for opening next year to meet the country’s growing number of foreign and domestic tourists.

"The new airports are in Iloilo and Bacolod while the additional 1,000 rooms in Boracay include the 200 in the new Shangri-La Resort and Spa, and many others at the Boracay Troplics, Fairways and Bluewaters, Regency Boracay, Discovery, and other resorts," Durano said.

Earlier, Durano cited the need for more tourism infrastructure and hotel facilities as the country’s current capacity could accommodate only three million foreign tourists in a year. "For the Philippines to target more than three million next year, we have to expand our capacity accordingly," Durano said.

For this year, the Department of Tourism (DoT) is aptly targeting three million foreign arrivals on the way to its 2010 goal of five million, which is exerting pressure on the agency to push capacity expansion vigorously in various sectors of the industry, especially in the most frequented destinations like Boracay.

Known for its stunning white sand beach and calm waters that lure tourists from all over the world, Boracay is also emerging as a diver’s paradise because of the first-class dive sites surrounding the island.

These dive sites, which cater to divers of all levels, include Friday’s Rock, Punta Bonga 1 and 2, Crocodile Island, Cathedral Cave, Laurel Island, Yapak, Black Rock, and Dog Drill. They vary in depth and marine life but all offer exciting underwater scenery, providing another dimension to the countrys’ menu of premium dive sites and island destinations.

The world’s huge divers market includes Japan’s two million dive enthusiasts, which the DoT is targeting.

"We have a distinct advantage in capturing that market because of our rich marine life, wide range of dive attractions and land-based activities, and proximity to Japan," Durano said in explaining the potential of the sport for tourism.

The Philippines is the center of the world’s marine biodiversity, according to Dr. Kent Carpenter, associate professor of Old Dominion University in Virginia, USA.

"The Philippines is also Japan’s nearest tropical neighbor and remains one of the preferred overseas dive destinations among the two million Japanese divers, half of whom travel abroad," Durano explained.

In pursuit of that market, the DoT and its strategic partners — Philippine Tourism Authority and Philippine Airlines — are participating in the Marine Diving Fair (MDF) at the Sunshine City Convention Center in Ikebukuro, Tokyo on April 7-9.

The DoT has received strong private sector support in joining the MDF. This includes the participation of Scubaworld, Amanpulo and Wind and Wave Davao, as well as Tokyo-based Pacific Cebu Resorts and Japan-Philippines Tourism Council.