Department Of Tourism Pitches PHL As Ideal Retirement Destination In Japan Expo

With hope, the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) finished its participation in the 4th Philippine Expo 2022 in Japan, as an increasing number of potential Japanese investors and retirees expressed a readiness to invest in the country.

From June 10 to 12, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary and PRA alternate chair Woodrow Maquiling Jr. led the country’s tourism delegation to the three-day expo “Friendship and Goodwill between Japan and Philippines,” which is considered one of the largest celebrations and gatherings of friendship between the Philippines and Japan. From June 10 to 12, the event was held at Ueno Onshi Park.

Maquiling thanked his Japanese tourism counterparts for providing the DOT with a platform to promote the Philippines’ tourism offerings to the Japanese market.

He specifically mentioned the PRA’s Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) program, a type of tourist investment that permits foreign nationals who want to retire or invest in the Philippines to obtain a special non-immigrant visa.

“Japan has become our tourism’s strongest pillar and one of our primary retirement markets,” Maquiling stated, flanked by PRA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Atty. Bienvenido K. Chy.

According to tourist statistics, nearly 4,000 Japanese have chosen the Philippines as their retirement destination, making Japan one of our top five suppliers of international senior retirees.

“I am pleased to report that, after two years of the pandemic, arrivals from Japan have begun to return to normal, with over 15,000 arrivals from Japan since we opened our borders in February 2022,” he said, adding that the DOT expects the figures to improve as the Philippines continues to show recovery and resilience against the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects.

The event drew over 45,000 Filipinos and Japanese tourists, including the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA). The expo took place on the 124th anniversary of the Philippines’ independence, which was commemorated alongside various government agencies and Japanese leaders.