Expectations for the New National Tourism Industry

June 01 (Wednesday) 2005

With the number of visitors likely to surpass the initial six month target of 15 million, the Aichi World Expo has been very successful. It is also very likely that the Expo will meet its goal of 1.5 million visitors from abroad. From the government's perspective, the Aichi World Expo is an opportunity to not only deepen the significance of the world exposition but also to develop the tourism industry in Japan.

In addition to serving as chairman to the Fujitsu Research Institute, I am also approaching this project as a member of the Strategy Committee on the Promotion of Japanese Tourism and as the chairman of the Cabinet's World Expo Promotion Committee. For these reasons alone, I am truly pleased with the current success of the Expo.

These times can be thought of as the great tourism age. Tourism is a large industry with an extremely large business base; it increases employment and stimulates the economy. Not only is it the paradigm of a peaceful industry but, as it involves sharing one's culture with others, it is an industry with cultural value as well.

There was a time when Japan's countless hot springs had become the center of a great boom in group tourism. With 17 million Japanese going abroad annually, the outbound tourism of Japan was also very prosperous. Recently, however, group tours have declined in popularity and many hot spring resorts are stagnating under an overabundance of fixed assets. Moreover, in comparison to the large flow of outbound tourism, the inbound tourism has been somewhat slow.

The Koizumi administration has recognized this problem and has been focusing much effort into the re-invigoration of the tourism industry. Under the implementation and development of various promotion strategies, the number of tourists from abroad has shown a rapid increase in just the past few years: numbers were in the 4 millions in 2002, the 5 millions in 2003, and the 6 millions in 2004.

In addition, the government is promoting new policies such as recognizing and honoring the 100 most charismatic leaders of local tourism and selecting and supporting outstanding local efforts to create internationally competitive tourism models. The Aichi World Expo has been the centerpiece for this series of reform initiatives.
Through efforts to create a new tourism industry centered upon the individual and the family, Japan will re-emerge as new tourist rich nation.