The Province of Bohol, the country’s first and only UNESCO Global Geopark, launched a five-day business mission to Japan aimed at strengthening tourism and investment linkages while promoting the province as a model of sustainable tourism.
The delegation, led by Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, held a series of business-to-business (B2B) meetings and destination product presentations in Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo recently, in time for the Tourism Expo Japan 2025.
The first of the B2B sessions was held on September 26 at the Central Japan International Airport, while the second session took place on September 29 at Hard Rock Café Tokyo.
Aumentado, together with Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte and the rest of the Bohol delegation, also paid a courtesy visit to Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene de Joya Garcia-Albano at the Embassy in Tokyo.
The mission was organized by the Provincial Government of Bohol, the Provincial Tourism Council, and the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office, with support from the Department of Tourism. It sought to expand Bohol’s market reach in Japan, one of the Philippines’ top tourism source countries and a longstanding development partner.
Among the participants were the Bohol Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, Aboitiz InfraCapital, the new operator of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, and a strong delegation from the private sector, including representatives from accommodations, travel and tours, and tourism site management.
“We see enormous potential in strengthening mutually-beneficial opportunities and connections through travel, education, and cultural exchanges.”
“We, at the Provincial Government, consider tourism not merely as an economic driver, but a bridge that connects people and cultures,” the governor said during the opening session in Nagoya.
“Japan and Bohol share a long history of cooperation and friendship, and we see enormous potential in strengthening mutually-beneficial opportunities and connections through travel, education, and cultural exchanges,” he added.
“We are highlighting Bohol’s blend of nature, culture, community immersions, and sustainable tourism practices.”
Joanne Pinat, officer-in-charge of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office, emphasized that the province is positioning itself as the top choice for Japanese travelers.
“We are highlighting Bohol’s blend of nature, culture, community immersions, and sustainable tourism practices,” Pinat said.
Japanese travelers, according to research from TheTourism.Institute, are particularly drawn to pristine landscapes, natural formations, historical sites, cultural traditions, wellness retreats, and destinations that offer a clean, safe, and sustainable environment—features that Bohol aims to showcase through its new tourism packages.
The business mission also aligned with the celebration of World Tourism Month and the World Tourism Day 2025 theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” which calls for deliberate, inclusive, and resilient approaches to tourism development.
Provincial officials expressed optimism that the Japan leg will generate sales leads and investment opportunities while reinforcing Bohol’s vision of becoming a globally recognized model of inclusive and sustainable development as the Philippines’ first and only UNESCO Global Geopark.
