Japan Sets Up Tourism Consulting Board

Left, Miki and "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer. The Mainichi Daily News has posted a new article on new initiatives to attract foreign visitors to Japan. In it, they wrote:

The Japan Tourism Agency on Friday launched a new consultative body to study how to attract more foreign tourists, who have been reluctant to visit Japan in the wake of the March 11 disaster and subsequent nuclear crisis, it said. The Japan Business Federation, Japan's biggest business lobby known as Keidanren, and the National Governors' Association have joined the new body, and the tourism agency will seek cooperation from travel agents and corporations from other business sectors as well. A subcommittee will study ways to attract business training sessions by foreign firms, while another panel will develop new discount tour programs for foreign tourists, according to the agency.

While much of the downturn in foreign visitors to Japan can be blamed on the quake, tsunami and radiation fears, they also have to look into the foreign exchange issues involving the yen. Right now, the U.S. dollar only buys around 76 yen. Four years ago, one dollar bought 116 yen. A big difference. Today's exchange rate makes Japan more expensive as the dollar lost its purchasing power. To read the full article, go here.