MANILA, Philippines- Umabot sa record high na 620,000 noong 2023 ang bilang ng mga turista mula sa Pilipinas na bumisita sa Japan, sa unang pagkakataon na lumampas ang annual figure sa pre-COVID-19 benchmarks, ayon kay Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko nitong Biyernes.
Sa kanyang opening remarks sa reception ng kaarawan ni Japan’s Emperor Naruhito sa Taguig City, inihayag ni Koshikawa na ang Pilipinas ang top source ng Japan ng mga turista sa Southeast Asia noong July 2023, sa 51,700 arrivals.
Sa kabuuan, base sa Japan National Tourism Organization, mayroong halos 622,300 bisita mula sa Pilipinas noong 2023, na katumbas ng 1.5 porsyentong pagtaas mula sa lebel na naitala noong 2019 o bago ang COVID-19 pandemic.
“People-to-people exchange is flourishing. We would like to keep our country attractive to the Filipino people,” wika ni Koshikawa.
“Since I arrive[d] in the Philippines as Ambassador to the Philippines, ties between Japan and the Philippines [have extended] to a wide range of levels,” dagdag ng opisyal.
Dagdag niya, “Our bilateral relations have evolved beyond traditional areas and made great progress in a variety of new areas with warm support of the Filipino people.”
“Under the strong leadership of both countries and your support, I hope cooperation between Japan and the Philippines will grow to even greater heights,” giit ni Koshikawa. RNT/SA
