QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLITT) have signed a cooperation agreement perceived to further enhance and promote tourism development between the two nations.
DOT Secretary Christina Gracia Frasco and MLITT Minister H.E. Tetsuo Saito led the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC), making the first stand-alone cooperation agreement between the two countries. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was also present to witness the ceremonial signing.
“With the signing of this landmark Memorandum of Cooperation on Tourism under the Marcos Administration, the Philippines’ bilateral relations with Japan is strengthened as we anticipate that this will exponentially expand tourism opportunities with the Japanese, which is one of our top source markets,” Secretary Frasco said in a speech during the signing at the President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace.
“This shall also usher in further tourism development in the fields of sustainability, air and sea connectivity, education, human capital development, culture, gastronomy, nature, and adventure, which shall increase tourism revenues for our stakeholders, usher in more tourism investments, and create more jobs for our fellow Filipinos, as envisioned by our President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.,” Sec. Frasco added.
Based on the agreement, Philippines, and Japan agreed to improve ties in the field of tourism by:
- increasing tourist arrivals from world tourist-generating markets
- encouraging tourists to visit various tourist destinations including rural areas in each other’s country
- encouraging mutual visits and traffic of high-value-added travelers to increase traffic consumption
- promoting healthy growth of tourism industry for both countries particularly in the aspects of education, culture, gastronomy, sustainable tourism, and adventure
- exchanging of information on matters related to the industry through education and training
- enhancing air and sea connectivity
- and ensuring safety among tourists while staying in each other’s countries
A joint working group consists of senior officials from the DOT and MLITT will convene to discuss the proper implementation of the MOC which will run for five years and can be renewed.
Currently, Japan ranks third as one of the country’s top source of visitors as of November 2023, with nearly a quarter of a million arrivals into the Philippines. (PIA-NCR)
