The Philippine government will ask Japan to limit or even lift its travel advisories against some tourist destinations in the country in a bid to boost the tourism industry reeled by Covid-19 pandemic, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Thursday.
During a roundtable meeting with the Japanese tourism stakeholders in Tokyo, Marcos said the Philippines and Japan must be open to each other's people because the two countries have so much "to share and learn with each other."
"With this, we are working on lobbying to the Japanese government for the lifting or limiting of its travel advisory against the Philippines’ key travel destinations," the President said, although it is not yet clear which Philippine destinations that Japan has restrictions on.
In the same meeting, where Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco was also present, Marcos also pushed to strengthen the Philippine education tourism to foster and improve the "friendship" between the two countries.
"Filipinos have a fluency in English that is recognized to be one of our main leverages, one of our main selling points in terms of the educational tourism," he said.
"It makes it easy for us to work and communicate in other countries. And where else can you better learn English than in the Philippines," he added.
Marcos said the Philippines is now ready to welcome more Japanese tourists as he cited his administration's efforts in improving road networks and connectivity in tourist spots.
As of January 30, 2022, Japan ranked 6th among the top Philippine foreign visitors.
"As a country that recognizes the linkage of our success to that of our neighbors such as Japan, working together in boosting one’s tourism sector is vital to economic resurgence," he said.