TOKYO – The number of visitors from the Philippines to Japan rose 27.2% year-on-year in January, reaching an estimated 72,200, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
The increase contributed to a record-breaking month for Japan’s tourism industry, with 3.78 million visitors last month, up 40.6% from a year earlier.
The Philippines ranked ninth among Japan’s top sources of visitor arrivals, following China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States, Australia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
The Japanese Embassy in Manila recently advised Filipino tourists to apply for visas at least two months before their planned travel dates, citing longer processing times due to a surge in applications and preparations for a new visa center system aimed at improving efficiency and maintaining quality. - Florenda Corpuz
(Photo: People are seen in Shinjuku, Tokyo on Jan. 11, 2025. | Din Eugenio)
