Duterte urges Japan travel leaders to invest in Philippines

TOKYO – President Duterte is urging Japanese businessmen to build resorts in the Philippines in anticipation of the surge in visitors seen to take advantage of additional flights between Japan and the Philippines.

Duterte issued the invitation during his meeting with leaders of Japan’s travel industry last Wednesday, according to a statement by the Department of Tourism (DOT). 

The department noted that inbound traffic from Japan is expected to rise with Philippine Airlines’ introduction of Chitose-Manila thrice weekly flights last December, Japan Airlines’ daily service linking Haneda with Manila since February and the upcoming Osaka-Manila flights of Air Asia and Narita-Clark flights of Cebu Pacific.

“We are receiving a lot of tourists now and soon, some areas might not be able to accommodate you for lack of facilities. We suggest for those who are interested to go into business to participate in building resorts for your citizens,” the DOT statement quoted Duterte as saying.

International air seats to the Philippines from Japan now total 3,250,264 as of March. The Philippines played host to 631,801 Japanese travelers last year, 8.15 percent higher than the number of visitors reported in 2017.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who was present at the meeting, said the development of new Philippine airports and expansion of existing gateways would attract many investment and business opportunities for Japanese airline companies and airport operators.

Duterte noted that improved airports and seaports would make inter-island travel easier and with more providers coming in, more affordable.

The President also urged Japanese businessmen to invest in the Philippines, saying it is now “the best time” to do so because of his administration’s Build Build Build program, which has a number of transportation infrastructure development projects.

Japanese Association of Travel Agents president Tadashi Shimura was quoted by the DOT as saying that Japan’s travel industry would help the Philippines develop and promote more destinations and support the country’s advocacy for sustainable tourism.

The group is expected to send 20 travel agencies to the Philippines to meet with local counterparts and explore possible areas of collaboration.

Duterte’s meeting with stakeholders of Japan’s travel industry coincided with the annual Philippine Business Mission organized by the DOT and the Tourism Promotions Board. This year, the mission covered Sapporo, Nagoya and Tokyo. The event included Philippine travel seminars for Japanese agents and business-to-business meetings between Philippine sellers and Japanese buyers.

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat earlier told investors that the Philippines’ tourism sector is filled with investment opportunities in the areas of accommodation, transportation, leisure and recreation facilities, food and beverage and even infrastructure.   

Japan is the Philippines’ fourth biggest tourism market, with 177,769 Japanese visiting the country in the first quarter of 2019.  

Meanwhile, President Duterte voiced outrage over the mass stabbing in Kawasaki and expressed sympathy to the families of the victims of the incident, which happened hours before he arrived for his third visit.

“I express my profound  shock and grief over the mass stabbing incident which regretfully happened in  Kawasaki. I am outraged by this  brutal attack against  innocent young children,”  Duterte said in a statement issued Wednesday night.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I extend my sincere prayers for the victims and our deepest  sympathies to their  families who need solace  and strength in this difficult time. We stand behind the government of Japan as it endeavors  to  bring justice to the victims of  this horrific act of violence,” he added.

Two people – an elementary school girl and a parent of another student – were killed and at least 14 others were hurt after a man went on a stabbing spree last May 28 in an area near the Noborito train station in Kawasaki.

The perpetrator, a 51-year-old resident of Kawasaki’s Asao Ward, died of self-inflicted injuries, according to police reports.