Forbes: Japan Tourism Rides Out The Perfect Storm

Above, a street view of Tokyo Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular followers of this blog are aware that I am keen on travel, and travel to Japan in particular.  So much so, I've even published The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan to assist those giant monster fans in getting there.

Since last year's March 11 earthquake, tsunami and radiation problems, I've been keeping an eye out on the state of Japan's recovery and the tourism industry.  Fortunately, things are progressing well.  

The disaster was largely confined to the northeast region of Honshu (the main island).  The majority of Japan was unaffected by the earthquake or the resulting problems.

Above, Asakusa's Nakamise Street in springtime.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Forbes.com posted an interview article with Yuki Tanaka, the Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)  in the United States.  If you are contemplating a vacation trip to Japan, I recommend a read of this interview.  

It begins with:

I’ve recently been fascinated with missions impossible in marketing. Here’s one: getting tourists to visit Japan – a country that, little more than a year ago, has suffered a devastating earthquake and tsunami, combined with the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Now factor in that this country has one of the strongest currencies out there, and you have something amounting to a perfect marketing storm. 

How has US tourism to Japan fared since the Sendai earthquake, and what has the national tourism authority done to stimulate travel? To answer these questions, I recently spoke with Yuki Tanaka, the Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization in the United States. When Tanaka assumed the directorship last June, she knew she was in for a baptism by fire. But the past ten months amount to an experience that is not only unusual, but also contains a big surprise.

Thankfully, the interview covers many topics, including the problems that are associated with the strong yen.

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City, Kyushu.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the interview article, go here.