Japan Bidding On Attracting More American Visitors

Above, the Yokohama harbor area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is in the New York City area this weekend and is considering a vacation trip to Japan, they may want to drop in on the New York Times Travel Show.

It is being held through tomorrow at the Javits Center in New York City.

According to the Japan Times, Japan is bidding on getting more Americans to visit Japan and has a major presence at the show.

They wrote:

NEW YORK – Japanese travel agencies and local governments gathered at the New York Times Travel Show on Friday in the hope of drawing more American tourists to the country ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. 

However, the rapid spread of a new coronavirus believed to have originated from the central Chinese city of Wuhan is a major worry, with some expressing concern that the illness could discourage travelers to Asia. 

Kanagawa Prefecture and its prefectural capital, Yokohama, was one of the exhibitors participating in the annual show for the first time. 

The port city hopes to attract tourists before and during the Olympics as some of the sporting events such as soccer and baseball will take place there. 

“America is probably the next China, it’s a huge market for Japan,” said Toshikazu Yazawa, a representative of the Japan National Tourism Organization in charge of the city. 

Yokohama will provide two locations for non-ticket holders to watch the Olympic competitions live. 

Nagano Prefecture was another exhibitor to promote its region to U.S. tourists.

To read more, go here.