TOKYO/OSAKA – The “Love the Philippines Mega Fam Trip 2024” brought together more than 70 Japanese participants, including travel agents, corporate buyers, educational tourism representatives, and media personnel from both West and East Japan from Oct. 23 to 27, along with airline staff, for a carefully curated tour of the Philippines.
This familiarization trip showcased six key destinations: Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Boracay, Palawan, and Davao.
Cebu served as the central hub for the trip, hosting all participants for a one-day series of business and networking meetings with Philippine stakeholders before they dispersed to other destinations. The program highlighted Cebu’s growing accessibility, particularly with new flight developments, including the launch of direct flights by Cebu Pacific on Oct. 15 and the resumption of Philippine Airlines flights on Dec. 22. With six weekly flights from Kansai International Airport, Cebu now offers greater convenience for Japanese travelers from West Japan.
The itinerary showcased unique activities and experiences available in each of the six destinations. In Bohol, participants explored the renowned Chocolate Hills and enjoyed the pristine beaches of Panglao. Cebu featured its rich Spanish colonial heritage, stunning beaches, and English-as-a-Second-Language education centers. Boracay, famed for its powdery white sand, is often considered one of the best beach destinations in the world. Iloilo offered a taste of its culinary delights and rich architectural heritage dating back to the Spanish era. Palawan, known as the Philippines’ last frontier, highlighted its breathtaking natural landscapes, while Davao offered a sampling of the region’s exotic tropical fruits and diverse cultural heritage.
This familiarization trip was organized in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Tourism Japan, the Tourism Promotions Board, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, the Japan Association of Travel Industries in Cebu, and prominent resorts and hotels, including Bai Hotel, Be Resort, Belmont Hotel, Bluewater Maribago, Citadines Hotel, Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel, Crimson Resort and Spa, Fili Hotel, Jpark Island Resort, Marco Polo, Quest Hotels, Savoy Hotel, Shangri-La Resort, Summit Galleria Hotel, Tambuli Seaside Resort, The Reef Island Resort, and Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Japan has consistently been a leading source market for tourism in the Philippines. As of September, the country welcomed a total of 293,578 Japanese tourists, making the Land of the Rising Sun the third-largest contributor to foreign arrivals. - PR, FJJ
