President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to improving its infrastructure and connectivity to enhance the travel experience for Japanese visitors to the country.

Marcos made the promise on the second day of his working visit to Osaka, Japan where he met with key Japanese tourism stakeholders.

“Today I met with Japanese tourism leaders who are helping us to welcome more visitors than ever before, with 214 weekly flights connecting Japan and the Philippines,” Marcos said in an Instagram post.

The President stressed that tourism can serve as a tool for inclusive economic growth.

“We are working to create more jobs for our people, help more businesses grow, and ensure that more communities feel the impact of a strong tourism sector,” he said as he thanked the Japanese government for its support in advancing Philippine tourism.

The meeting gathered key figures in Japan’s and the Philippines’ travel and tourism industries, including representatives from the Japan Tourism Agency, Japan Association of Travel Agents Kansai/JTB West Japan Area, Japan Philippines Tourism Council Kansai Regional Division, HIS Co. Ltd., Nippon Travel Agency, Hankyu Travel International Co. Ltd., Kansai Airports, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

In an interview, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who came on the trip with the President, highlighted the significance of the meeting, emphasizing the “very instrumental” role Japanese tourism stakeholders play in keeping Japan among the Philippines’ top inbound markets.

According to Frasco, Japan ranks third in visitors to the Philippines.

She said the President assured the stakeholders of the government’s commitment to ongoing infrastructure development, including the privatization and improvement of key airports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and regional hubs to boost direct access for international travelers.