The 10-member Japanese delegation, led by Ryuichi Yokoshima, is currently in the province for the tourism business exchange program.

They met with officials of the provincial government, stakeholders, and eight tour operators yesterday at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City to introduce their city to the Negrense community.

Cristine Mansinares, Negros Occidental provincial supervising tourism operations officer, said the Japanese delegation emphasized that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has inscribed the hidden Christian sites of Amakusa and Nagasaki, also in Japan, in the World Heritage List in July last year.

“This will be their newest attraction,” she said, adding that only Negros Occidental, aside from Manila, was included in their itinerary, in their visit here.

The Japanese delegation also met with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and reiterated their interest to collaborate with the provincial government on three areas – tourism, manpower needs, and agricultural innovation, Mansinares said.

They want to introduce technology in agriculture that will maximize the produce, she said.

“They want to forge a partnership with us,” she said, adding that this will also boost economic opportunities for the province as more markets will learn about Negros Occidental.

“They also invited the governor to visit their city so both nations can explore areas for possible collaboration,” she added.

The tourism exchange program of the two governments started in 2017.*