Sabah deep dives into marine conservation with ADEX Summit

ADEX Ocean Partnership Summit will be hosted in Sabah in August 2023 to drive sustainable diving tourism and marine conservation.

Before joining Constellar, Chua Wee Phong developed the exhibition business of Singapore Press Holdings into one of Singapore's largest event companies.
Before joining Constellar, Chua Wee Phong developed the exhibition business of Singapore Press Holdings into one of Singapore's largest event companies.

Sabah has been chosen to host the ADEX Ocean Partnership Summit in August 2023.

The summit, an important gathering for marine conservation initiatives and sustainable diving tourism, will coincide with the Asian Dive Expo (ADEX), which is taking place at Singapore's Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 31 March to 2 April.

Sabah assistant minister of tourism, culture, and environment cum chairman of Sabah Tourism Board, Joniston Bangkuai, attended the opening of ADEX Singapore and launched the ADEX Sabah Ocean Partnership Summit 2023.

The Sabah Tourism Board is partnering with ADEX to organise the summit, which will be held at the Sabah International Convention Centre from 18 to 20 August.

The event will bring together global ocean community members, renowned speakers, professional diving fraternity and attendees, for the sharing of ideas and knowledge on best practices for ocean conservation.

Sabah has implemented a range of initiatives to protect the marine environment, including marine parks and sanctuaries, strict regulations on fishing and diving, and education programmes to raise awareness about marine conservation.

According to Joniston, the event will bolster the state's diving industry, and he hopes it will encourage Sabah to host its very own dive expo. Sabah has a strong network of professional dive operators who offer world-class diving services.

The ADEX Sabah Ocean Partnership Summit will not only provide a platform to showcase Sabah's rich marine biodiversity but also its cultural diversity. Visitors will have a chance to experience local culture and cuisine while also taking advantage of diving opportunities.

Based on statistics, Sabah recorded 61,796 divers in 2022, bringing in an estimated RM222.8 million (US$50.4 million) in revenue. The figure comprises 6,411 international divers and 55,384 domestic divers. In 2019, Sabah registered 130,604 international divers and 7,145 domestic divers, with a total revenue of RM821 million (US$185.7 million).