MANILA — A significant tourism cooperation agreement has been established between Japan and the Philippines, promising to enhance the number of Japanese tourists traveling to the Southeast Asian nation as both countries seek to accelerate the post-pandemic revival of their tourism sectors.
According to Philippines News Agency, the memorandum of cooperation was formalized during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Manila on November 3. This agreement was signed by representatives from the DOT and Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLITT) and is expected to serve as a catalyst for increased tourism activities and mutual visits between the two nations.
The DOT outlined that the cooperation will open up channels for Filipino and Japanese tourism authorities to work jointly on attracting more visitors from leading global tourism markets. The agreement is also anticipated to appeal to high-value travelers, characterized by longer stays and higher expenditure, thus contributing positively to the economic recovery efforts of the Philippines.
DOT Secretary Christina Frasco, speaking on the potential impacts of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC), expressed confidence that this agreement under the Marcos administration will significantly elevate tourism prospects with Japan, noted as a primary source of tourists for the Philippines.
The new framework for collaboration is designed to foster advancements across various facets of tourism including sustainability, transportation connectivity by air and sea, education, workforce development, culture, culinary experiences, nature, and adventure tourism.
Safety protocols for tourists in both nations will also be a focus of the bilateral agreement, ensuring that visitors have secure experiences while traveling. To this end, a joint working group comprising senior officials from the DOT and Japan's MLITT will convene to oversee the effective execution of the initiatives outlined in the MOC. This agreement is set to span five years with the possibility of renewal.
The formal signing of the MOC by Frasco and MLIT Minister Tetsuo Saito took place at Malacañan Palace, witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
With Japan recognized as the third-largest source of tourists to the Philippines, tallying nearly a quarter-million arrivals as of November 2, this partnership is poised to strengthen further and deepen the long-standing ties between the two nations through the avenue of tourism.