Japan is aiming to his “tourism superpower” status with new plans to raise both the number of tourists and their spending that sustains Japanese jobs.
Since it appears that the goal previously set—20 million visitors by 2020—will be met this year, government and tourism industry officials are discussing new, higher goals. The government has created a new public-private tourism panel, which met last week and discussed goals for the next few years in the 30-million and up range.
Among the issues council members identified as needing to be addressed if new goals are to be met are improved lodging facilities, and crucially, luring tourists to see more of Japan besides the major metropolitan areas. Adding another 10 million tourists a year to Tokyo won’t help the rest of the country much.
Japan has a long way to go to reach the top. China is the most-visited Asian country with 55.6 million visitors last year, a number dwarfed by world-leading France with 83.7 million.
Sensoji Temple Complex, Tokyo/ Photo by Travel Rob
For more details from Yomiuri Shimbun, click HERE
