Japanese travel agents back RP’s plea to lift travel advisory

The Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), Japan’s biggest and most influential travel association, has pledged to give full support to the government’s efforts to lift the travel advisory that has greatly affected influx of tourists from the country’s second top market, Japan.

JATA chairman Koji Shinmachi assured newly-appointed Tourism Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan that their organization will make proper representations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) JAPAN to have the travel advisory against the Philippines lifted or if not, lowered as soon as possible.

Shinmachi refers to the existing travel advisory issued early last year by MOFA of Japan on selected tourist destinations such as Boracay, Palawan, Zamboanga and other certain areas in Mindanao allegedly due to crimes committed by terrorist groups during that period.

The JATA head, during his recent visit to the country, said travel advisories “are not fair for the Philippines,” noting that majority of these was issued based only on “perceptions.” He further stressed that it is “unfair” to use news reports on security and safety as major bases for these issuances.

“The JATA chair’s visit is a good indication that they are in support of our undertakings in tourism,” Pagdanganan said.

Japan is an important market for the Philippines. It has remained the country’s second largest in terms of arrivals.

The visit of Shinmachi, said to be two years in the making, was in response to the invitation made by then Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon.

The recent visit of JATA delegation also includes a short leisure trip to Boracay island. Pagdanganan pointed out that their “trip to the island is a sign of trust on the government’s efforts regarding security, and it also proves the country is safe.”

During the meeting, the two leaders together with Undersecretaries Oscar Palabyab and Evelyn Pantig, also discussed means and ways on how to improve tourism between the two countries.