Japanese Emperor’s Visit to PHL Next Year is VPA’s ‘Buena Mano’, Says DOT Chief

If this year’s ‘buena mano’ for Visit the Philippines Year 2015 (VPY 2015) was Pope Francis’ papal visit last January, next year, it will be the Japanese emperor’s visit, a tourism official said.

Buena mano, as defined by Entrepreneur Philippines magazine, is a Spanish phrase that means “good hand.” In business practice, it is expected to bring good luck to the business for the rest of the day.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. made this point at the recent closing ceremony of the agency’s Countdown to Christmas: Celebrating the Regions.

Jimenez stressed that the visit of Japanese emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko on January 26 to 30, 2016 will be a fitting kick off for its Visit the Philippines Again 2016 (VPA 2016) campaign lifted from its current VPY 2015.

“(This) is very significant because it’s like telling Japan and Japanese people that it’s okay to visit the Philippines,” the DOT official said.

The Japanese royals’ last visit to the Philippines was in 1962 when they were then crown prince and princess.

To recall, Malacanang last October announced that the imperial couple of Japan will visit the Philippines in response to President Benigno S. Aquino III’s invitation to visit the country.

Malacanang spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier described their visit as an “auspicious start of the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan in 2016.”

Aside from the Japanese royals’ visit, Philippines is also preparing for the upcoming ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) also in January. The ATF is a cooperative regional effort to promote the ASEAN region as a single tourist destination.

The event will also provide a platform for the selling and buying of regional and individual tourism products of ASEAN member countries, through the three-day travel exchange (TRAVEX) event.

Expected to attend are ASEAN tourism leaders of each member state. (PNA) RMA/ANP