Yomiuri Shimbun Editorial: Make Japan More Tourist-Friendly

Above, islets near Matsushima Bay, Japan.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Yomiuri Shimbun posted an editorial on making Japan more a more tourist-friendly country back on April 24.

Others have since posted this editorial (most recent, Thailand's The Nation).  So, I re-read the editorial and it does have much merit to it.

Here's some excerpts from the original Yomiuri Shimbun editorial:

Increasing the number of foreign visitors and turning this into economic growth--this goal of making Japan a tourism-oriented nation will require combined efforts by the public and private sectors. 

The government is pouring considerable effort into steps to make Japan a tourism magnet. A ministerial conference chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been established for that purpose. The government plans to study comprehensive tourism policies that cross ministerial borders and formulate an action program by summer. 

If more tourists and business people visit Japan, it will invigorate consumption and create jobs, thereby promoting the development of regions as tourist spots. We fully support the government's initiative of realizing a tourism-oriented country.

The editorial gets better as it critiques past government efforts:

Japan is famous for its culture of hospitality and is blessed with many regional treasures such as the natural beauty of its four seasons. However, these have yet to be reflected fully in a strategy to attract tourists. 

Providing items and experiences that incorporate traditional local values and tap private-sector wisdom would be more effective than safe tourism campaigns led by administrative offices and designed to please everyone.

What prompted this editorial?  The editorial itself spells it out:

Japan ranked 39th in the world as a destination for foreign visitors in 2011, trailing far behind China (third), Malaysia (ninth), Thailand (15th) and South Korea (25th). Although the earthquake and tsunami disaster must be factored into the equation, the figures are sobering.

It is odd (at least to me) that South Korea is way ahead of Japan in tourism.  I don't see the attraction of South Korea (maybe someone can enlighten me).  Japan has much more interesting things to see and do.  Obviously, something needs to be done.


 To read the full article, go here.