A historic agreement between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLITT) of the Japanese government is expected to increase prospects for the growth of tourism between the two nations.
This occurred as the first independent cooperation agreement between the two countries, a Memorandum of Cooperation for Tourism, was signed by MLIT Minister His Excellency Tetsuo Saito and DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
On November 3–4, during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s first official visit to the Philippines, the contract was exchanged in front of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
In line with the terms of the cooperation agreement, both nations committed to bolstering and expanding their tourism-related ties by boosting visitor arrivals from global tourist-generating markets, enticing more travelers to visit a variety of tourist attractions, including rural areas of each other’s countries, promoting reciprocal visits and high-value traveler traffic to boost tourism consumption, and supporting the robust development of the tourism industries in both the Philippines and Japan, particularly in the areas of education, culture, gastronomy, sustainable tourism, and adventure.
“The Philippines’ bilateral relations with Japan have been strengthened with the signing of this historic Memorandum of Cooperation on Tourism under the Marcos Administration. We anticipate that this will greatly expand tourism opportunities with the Japanese, who are one of our top source markets. As envisaged by our President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., this will also bring about additional tourism development in the areas of sustainability, air and sea connectivity, education, human capital development, culture, gastronomy, nature, and adventure. These developments will boost tourism earnings for our stakeholders, bring about more tourism investments, and generate employment opportunities for our fellow Filipinos, Secretary Frasco stated.
As of November 2, 2023, Japan is third among the countries that send the most tourists to the Philippines, with around a quarter of a million of those arrivals coming from there.
Furthermore, both nations will cooperate in the following areas: information sharing on industry-related issues; education and training; mutual traffic means through improved air and sea connectivity; cooperative marketing initiatives; and improved transportation connectivity to support traveler influx and people-to-people exchange.
Additionally, Japan and the Philippines decided to work together to guarantee visitor safety when they are visiting their respective nations.
Senior DOT and MLITT officials will form a joint working group to ensure that the MOC is implemented correctly. The group’s term is set for five years, with the possibility of extension.
As you may remember, in July 1956, Japan and the Philippines formally established diplomatic ties.
Source- Travel daily
Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/philippines-japan-ink-deal-on-tourism-cooperation/