DOT triples efforts to revive the Japanese tourists market

Cebu expects Japanese tourists to increase next year as the Department of Tourism (DOT) triples its efforts to bring back the Japanese market to the Philippines.

Cebu, which has been the favorite destination for Japanese, expects more Japanese arrivals especially next year when both countries celebrate the 50th Philippines-Japan Friendship, said DOT-7 regional director Patria Aurora Roa yesterday on the sidelines of the Kapihan sa Turismo held at SM City Cebu.

Roa said the Ace Durano-led DOT is now expanding its focus towards the Japanese market. The Philippines will not only limit on male vacationers but will have to attract Japanese families, couples, honeymooners, young professionals and students.

"Unlike before that majority, if not all Japanese tourists are male, now we are trying to attract other market segments the females, families, students," Roa said.

For a time now, the Korean arrival has overtaken the number of Japanese tourists in Cebu. Although, the Japanese visitors in Cebu are increasing, Roa said there is a need to bring back the Japanese market in full force because they (Japanese) are known to be high-spenders.

Roa said next year, the 50th Philippines-Japan Friendship will be celebrated in July, the DOT and the government of Japan have also planned to hold monthly events in both countries.

Ina M. Asirit, DOT chief of staff, said the department has seen the big potential to fully bring back the Japanese market, as the changing global setting has opened the doors for other Japanese market segments, like the female, families, couples, honeymooners, and students to take their vacations, outside of their country, unlike before.

According to Roa, Cebu in particular will showcase the good Wellness and Spa facilities to the Japanese market, as well as shopping, and other attractions aside from the beaches, resorts, and tourist spots.

"Cebu is the destination of the Japanese- it's very accessible for them. It will only take a three-hour flight to get to Cebu," she stressed.

During next year's monthly event to mark the 50th year of friendship bond between the Philippines and Japan, Roa said Cebu will highlight the medical tourism package, which will showcase the world-class Spa and Wellness facilities such as the Chi Village in Shangri-La's Mactan Island.

Roa, who is a member of the Team Japan of DOT, said during a recent meeting with secretary Durano recently to focus on attracting more Japanese visitors, there are four advertising firms based in Japan who presented their concepts on how to draw Japanese tourists to the Philippines.

From January to May of this year, tourist arrivals to Cebu increased by 29 percent. Roa said Japanese arrivals have also shown improvement, in the past months. But still the Koreans remains the number one foreign visitors to Cebu right now.