Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco pledged to collaborate closely to advance the tourism relations between Japan and the Philippines.

During his courtesy call on Frasco on Tuesday, Endo expressed that the two countries “would work closely together to further deepen bilateral relations in a wide range of areas.”

“Ambassador Endo highlighted joint efforts in tourism promotion to people-to-people exchanges between the two countries,” the Japanese embassy said in a news release on Wednesday.

Frasco conveyed her appreciation for the support of the Japanese government in tourism-related areas.

During Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s first official visit to the Philippines on Nov. 3-4, 2023, the DOT and the Japanese government’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLITT) signed a landmark agreement that is seen to expand opportunities for tourism development between the two countries.

Frasco and MLITT Minister Tetsuo Saito signed a memorandum of cooperation for tourism, the first stand-alone cooperation agreement between the two nations, in the presence of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Kishida in Malacañan Palace.

Under the cooperation, both countries agreed to strengthen and further develop Philippines-Japan ties in the field of tourism by increasing tourist arrivals for both countries from world tourist-generating markets; encouraging more tourists to visit various tourist destinations and attractions, including rural areas in each other’s country; encouraging mutual visits and traffic of high-value-added travelers to increase tourism consumption; encouraging healthy growth of tourism industry of Philippines and Japan, especially on the aspects of education, culture, gastronomy, sustainable tourism, and adventure.

Japan is considered as one of the country’s top source of visitors ranking third, with nearly a quarter of a million arrivals into the Philippines as of November last year.

The Philippines and Japan also agreed to cooperate in terms of ensuring safety among tourists while they are staying in their respective countries.

The Philippines and Japan formally established diplomatic relations in July 1956. (PNA)