Marcos meets with Japanese tourism sector
In a meeting with tourism stakeholders, Marcos was given an overview of key interests and opportunities for Philippine tourism in Japan. The stakeholders represent important areas of tourism, including industry associations, travel and tour companies, airlines and airports.
Those part of the meeting were the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) Kansai / JTB West Japan Area Representative, Japan Philippines Tourism Council (JPTC), Kansai Regional Division, HIS Co., Ltd., Nippon Travel Agency, Hankyu Travel International Co., Ltd., Kansai Airports, Philippine Airlines (PAL), and Cebu Pacific.
According to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Marcos highlighted his prioritization of tourism development through the help of infrastructure. She said the President mentioned the development of airports in the metro and in other regions.
''This was received very well by our Japanese stakeholders, especially considering that our data shows that Japanese travelers favor Cebu, Palawan, Boracay, Bohol, and are also very interested in other emerging island destinations across the country,'' she said.
The President also gave his commitment as regards the Philippine government's continued prioritization of connectivity, Frasco said.
Marcos also mentioned the Department of Tourism's Philippine Experience Heritage, Culture, and Arts Caravans.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano said Marcos wants to show his appreciation to all those who worked together in producing the Philippine Pavilion at the World Expo Osaka 2025.
She also described relations between the Philippines and Japan as robust, with many sectors being active as a result of an exchange of high-level visits from both countries in recent months and years. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
8 hours ago
- GMA Network
World Bank OKs $700-M loan for PH's community resilience project
Multilateral lender World Bank has approved a $700-million loan for the Philippine government's initiative to make communities less vulnerable to natural disasters. In a statement, the World Bank said that approximately 18 million households in the Philippines are expected to become less vulnerable to natural disasters in the coming years, 'due to enhanced community-led planning and infrastructure investments.' The Washington-based lending institution said the $874.35-million Philippines Community Resilience Project 'will engage communities in identifying climate and natural hazard risks and developing resilience plans.' To bankroll the project, the World Bank said it will provide $700 million through an 'International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan.' The Philippine government, on the other hand, will provide the remaining $174.35 million. The World Bank said the project will prioritize 500 climate-vulnerable municipalities across 49 provinces in the Philippines. The lender added that the municipalities are selected based on their high poverty incidence and significant exposure to climate hazards. Moreover, it said the initiative will support 177 municipalities with an indigenous population of 10% or more, thereby aiding approximately 33% of the total indigenous population in the country. "By empowering local communities to take the lead in building resilience against climate change and disaster risks, the Philippines is not only addressing immediate environmental challenges but also fostering a culture of proactive engagement and resilience," said Zafer Mustafao?lu, Division Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. Initiatives under the program include flood and drought mitigation, landslide and slope protection, surge protection and breakwaters, windbreakers, and retrofitting of existing infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, according to the World Bank. Moreover, the project will support erosion control, agroforestry, and other nature-based solutions for ecosystem conservation, including community forests, wetlands, marshes, and waterways, erosion control, water conservation, and agroforestry. The lender said the project would also include adoption of services and technologies in areas such as sustainable agriculture and food security —climate-smart farming innovations and small-scale irrigation systems. The World Bank said the Philippines ranks at the top of the World Risk Index due to its high vulnerability and exposure to cyclical extreme events. In 2023, out of 2.6 million disaster-related displacements, 2.1 million were attributed to two major climate-induced hydroclimatic events, namely typhoons and floods, the lender said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
Senator urges BSP to apply stricter measures vs. online lending apps
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Friday called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to implement more stringent action against online lending apps amid the rise of internet gambling in the country. Villanueva, who earlier filed an anti-online gambling bill, said the BSP's regulatory oversight on online lending apps, electronic wallets, and digital banks should complement the efforts of law enforcement agencies in addressing the ill effects of online gambling to society. "Kapag pinagsama po ang iligal na online gambling at ang mapagsamantalang pautang ng mga online lending apps, siguradong malulugmok sa kumunoy ang ating mga kababayan," the senator said in a statement. (When you combine illegal online gambling and the exploitative loans offered by the online lending apps, our countrymen will surely fall into quicksand.) "Regulatory agencies must exercise their oversight to support our law enforcement bodies, and do their fair share in slowing down the rampant use of online gambling platforms," he added. The Senate is set to hold an investigation regarding online gambling in the country, as announced by Senator Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate games and amusement committee. Several other lawmakers have also called either for the total ban or strict regulation of online gambling, citing its negative impact on Filipinos who got addicted to it. Villanueva also disclosed that he received information that some employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) have now shifted to online gambling operations, seeking electronic gaming licenses from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). "How does PAGCOR actually screen and monitor its licensees to ensure that these same individuals are not resurfacing under a different name or company? What concrete actions does PAGCOR take when irregularities are discovered?" he asked. PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco earlier noted that the gaming industry regulator recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) to strengthen the monitoring of gambling-related advertisements across all platforms. It also recently ordered the takedown of all gambling ads in public spaces and primetime TV by August 15 this year. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14 hours ago
- GMA Network
BSP pegs July inflation to slow down to 0.5%-1.3%
Philippine monetary authorities are expecting that the country's inflation rate cooled down last month amid the continued contraction in rice prices. In its month-ahead forecast, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it projects July 2025's inflation rate to settle within the 0.5% to 1.3% range. The central bank's projection for last month's inflation print is lower compared to the 1.4% rate seen in June. 'Upward price pressures for the month are likely to be driven by higher meat and vegetable prices partly due to unfavorable weather conditions, increased electricity rates, elevated domestic fuel costs, and the depreciation of the peso,' the BSP said. 'These price pressures, however, could be partially offset by the continued decline in rice prices,' the central bank said. The BSP said it will continue to monitor developments affecting the outlook for inflation and growth in line with its data-dependent approach to monetary policy decision-making. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
