MANILA, Philippines – More and more Filipino travelers are visiting Japan and the number has reached 268,000 people in 2015, about four times the number than that of 2011. It is because the difficulties in obtaining visa for Japan, the major barrier for Filipino travelers to Japan, were eased in 2013 with the “alleviation of multiple entry visa regulations” and also the “simplification of single entry visa application for participants of packaged tours organized by accredited travel agencies.”

In view of Olympic and Paralympic games in 2020 and after, and also as the “gateway to Japan”, Tokyo, the capital of Japan, played an important role more than ever to promote inbound tourism and Tokyo Metropolitan Government is now working hard on it. Along with it, Tokyo Metropolitan Government is also doing various efforts to establish the “TOKYO BRAND” as a tourist destination. And last October, Tokyo Metropolitan Government have launched the TOKYO BRAND logo and slogan “& TOKYO”, which is expressing the brand concept of “a city that promises all kinds of fun by constantly generating new styles while bringing tradition and innovation together”. The ampersand character of “& TOKYO” expresses Tokyo’s many ways of making “connections”, in other words, our intention behind this logo and slogan is to express how Tokyo creates new kinds of enjoyment by forming new values and connections.

For the first time, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) had a promotional event for travel agents and media in the Philippines to show the charms of Tokyo with the purpose of promoting the inbound tourism of Tokyo by using this logo and slogan. In the seminar of the event, not only Tokyo Metropolitan Government but also tourism related companies and organizations from Chiba prefecture had presentations to introduce the tourism information. Also the local governments of neighboring prefectures of Tokyo such as Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa had their own stand to appeal each prefecture at the business meeting area for travel agents.

With the theme “Exciting”, one of the unique values of Tokyo’s as a dynamic and energetic city which is constantly evolving, and with recognition of the interests of the Filipinos, TMG thinks that it could successfully promote the tourism of Japan. TMG offered not only the latest information but also the easy-to-understand performative attractions: Japanese traditional instrument called shamisen and tea ceremony demonstration. TMG thanks all the participants for their cooperation and appreciation, allowing them to sense and appreciate what Tokyo is all about.

102 people from 72 travel agencies have joined the business meeting, and it ended with success.