TOKYO – Filipino tourism to Japan saw another surge in May, continuing its upward trend as a weakened yen made travel to the Land of the Rising Sun even more attractive for visitors from the Philippines.
According to preliminary data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), an estimated 67,400 Filipino tourists visited the island nation last month, a 13. 1 percent increase from the 59,578 visitors recorded in the same month of 2019, before the pandemic.
“We were able to buy more items for ourselves and as souvenirs for our family and friends back home,” said Aileen David Reyes, who traveled to Japan with her husband Kenneth during the Golden Week holidays.
The young couple, on their second trip to Japan, visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
“It has always been our dream to visit Japan and watch anime shows. We loved the weather, the food, and the locals were very polite,” she beamed.
As of Monday, the exchange rate stands at 100 yen to 37 pesos.
Last month, Japan welcomed approximately 3,040,100 foreign visitors, with the Philippines ranking as the seventh-largest contributor to its tourism market, following South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the U.S.A., and Thailand. - Florenda Corpuz
(People are seen outside Tokyo Station on May 21, 2024. Photo by Din Eugenio)
