MANILA, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Diving tourism contributed more than 73 billion pesos (1.3 billion U.S. dollars) to the Philippine economy in 2023, nearly twice the revenue the industry earned in 2022, the country's Department of Tourism said Friday.

Diving tourism raked 37 billion pesos (661 million dollars) in revenue in 2022, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said at the Philippine International Dive Expo 2024.

As one of the "mega biodiverse countries in the world," Frasco said the Philippines is home to more than 500 species of corals and 2,000 species of fish.

"Therefore, this distinction for the Philippines we take to heart with a firm commitment to ensure not just the marketability, but more importantly, the sustainability of our dive industry," Frasco said.

"We can look forward to yielding additional revenue from this industry, reinforcing the Philippine position as the world's premier dive destination and tourism's role, as now one of the strongest pillars of our economy, providing livelihood and employment for millions of Filipinos," she said.

The Philippines has expanded its diving tourism offerings to emerging and lesser-known destinations, bringing the total to approximately 120 diving destinations across the country, Frasco said.