Following a downgrade of the travel advisory made by the Japanese government in some parts of Mindanao, the Department of Tourism expressed elation as this will secure gains in terms of tourism revenue and livelihood generation.

Based on the pronouncement of Japan, its revised classification stated that the Davao Region, composed of Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental, was lowered from Level 2 to Level 1, which now joined the cities of Mati, Tagum, Samal, Davao and Digos, which remain at Level 1.

The Province of Misamis Oriental was downgraded from Level 2 to Level 1. Cagayan de Oro City, Jasaan, Villanueva and Tagoloan have remained at Level 1.

In the Caraga Region, Surigao City, a component city of the provincial capital, was also lowered from Level 2 to Level 1, joining the Siargao Islands at Level 1.

In the Soccsksargen region, the eastern part of Sarangani Province, which is Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan and Glan, was lowered from Level 3 to Level 2.

Level 1 travel advisory advises Japanese travelers to take extra care; Level 2 means refrain from traveling if non-essential and non-urgent; while Level 3 refrains traveling at any time.

With this, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the agency is grateful to the government of Japan for the downgrading of the travel advisory in parts of Mindanao, a significant move that attests to the improved safety and security in the region as an aim to bolster tourism not only in the usual destinations but most importantly, in the emerging and lesser-known ones.