Japan plans to waive visas for Filipino tourists - report
MANILA, Philippines - The Japanese government and the ruling political coalition are reportedly "making arrangements" to lift the visa requirement for tourists from the Philippines.
Citing government sources, the Kyodo News reported on Tuesday that the visa waiver is also being eyed for tourists from Indonesia and Vietnam.
According to the report, the proposed initiative that aims to attract more tourists from Southeast Asia is part of the revised action plan due this June to make Japan a tourism-oriented country.
Japan is seeking to increase its annual number of foreign visitors to 20 million in time for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, the report said.
"The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is also looking to tourism as a pillar of its strategy to spur the country's economic growth," the Kyodo News added.
In June 2013, news circulating online claimed that Japan has already lifted its visa requirement for Filipinos. But the Japanese Embassy in Manila immediately dismissed these reports.
However, the embassy said Japan opened multiple-entry visas to Philippine tourists on July 1.
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