Quake drives tourist numbers to rock bottom
TOKYO —
Given the knock-on effects of the March 11 earthquake, it’s hardly unexpected, but the news that the number of tourists visiting Japan in 2011 was down by almost 30% still came as something of a blow to the country’s travel industry.
The figures, compiled by the Japan National Tourist Organization, show the biggest annual fall in visitors since it began keeping records.
Just 6.2 million foreign travelers visited Japan in the whole of 2011—down 27.8% on 2010.
While the impact of the earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear accident are all implicated, JNTO also says the historically strong Japanese yen has caused many potential visitors to stay away.
Country breakdown
By country, the numbers show South Koreans shunned the usually popular Japan trips in their droves. Korea has long accounted for the largest number of incoming tourists to its near neighbor.
South Korean visitors were down 32% on the year, with just under 1.7 million visiting in 2011, compared to more than 2.4 million in 2010.
Tourism from China slipped by 26% on the year, although there was some hope for 2012 on show in December, as the monthly numbers jumped by 32% on 2010 thanks to a strong year-end promotional drive aimed at Chinese travelers.
JNTO says it holds out hope for the recovery to be sustained through 2012 and that it intends to beat the yearly record of 8.6 million incoming tourists, set as recently as 2010.
SOURCE: CNNGo
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17 Comments
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8
Miyagidad
come on - tourists are sensible, they don't believe a single word of reassurance from a criminally negligent government, and what in the past 10 months has proved them wrong?
3
Miyagidad
P.S. lets not forget that the tourism industry has been compensated upto 80% for their losses, while farmers and home owners covered by the radioactive filth have been barely compensated within Fukushima and not at all if you live in Ibaragi, Miyagi or elsewhere, curious?
2
some14some
better don't set target for 2012 and avoid repeated embarrassment.
1
Elbuda Mexicano
Maybe Japan can think outside of the so called box and say volunteer/tourism, Japan still needs folk to rebuild many parts of this country/ just to be kind to the victims and talk to/smile be friendly to the poor folk up in Fukushima etc..
3
alladin
Well, if the Japanese government keeps on telling lies to everyone, there will be even more tourist shunning Japan and going to other places where it is much more safer with a whole lot of more honest people around.
1
cactusJack
Where is a tourism mascot when you need one?
4
magistratus
Why do they say the quake? Japan has had quakes for a very long time!
Its the nuke disaster mainly, and all the effects of it, such as on the food. The tsunami next, and all those pictures of destruction. Its the quake...not at all! If there was no quake but there was the tsunami and nuke disaster, these figures would be the same.
I am just surprised that the figures are down only 30 percent. If you asked me before this article, I would have guessed 70 percent! But most of the actual tourists are probably going to Okinawa or Kyoto, well away from the nuke problems and tsunami damage.
1
OldHawk
It's not just the quake damage, or even the nuclear risk. It's also the exchange rate (30% hit for Americans), the fuel surcharges on the airfare, etc. For every dollar I have to spend on airfare, that's 70 yen I can't spend on the Japanese economy. I'm still planning on visiting this year, but I would visit more often if it didn't cost so much.
3
JapanGal
I helped out 2 Aussies today that are here for a week. They could not believe they could not get a SIM card for their phones and that no one speaks English. Yokoso
2
kurisupisu
Cesium has a half life of 30 years and it is still spewing its way into the Japanese environment.
It is perfectly understandable that people are staying away. Foreign media have truthfully explained the situation!Foreigners are adverse to receiving radiation poisoning.the situation has been truthfully explained by media outside; unlike the Japanese media which has been gagged!
When Chernobyl's reactor exploded I failed to note a massive impetus to promote Russia as a sightseeing destination for the Japanese........With good reason!
0
Ranger_Miffy2
All the comments above are SPOT ON. The J-gov't should realize that their constant lying is correctly read by tourist wondering if now was the time to visit good o'Nippon is a raging NO. IF the J-gov had told the damned truth, people would believe them when they said most of Japan is safe to visit. Which it is. Except now I would advise any tourists to flaming AVOID ALL RICE. And maybe beef, green tea, ocean fish, and, and, and.
People, we are in big trouble.
2
tamanegi
My ten year old gave his pocket money to a red cross japan appeal last year and was supposed to visit me with his father in the spring. He said he doesn't want to come here now because he saw on australian tv that the j govt left all the animals around the daiichi zone to starve and japan still "hurts and kills" whales.
1
kaminarioyaji
It's not the fault of the quake - The so-called government continues to obfuscate facts about Fukushima, so how can anyone make an informed choice? Obviously, tourists will err on the side of caution.
1
Fadamor
If this is a direct quote from CNNGo, then they need to do some work on their English. If the yen was "historically strong", then prices would have ALWAYS been strong. I think what they meant to say was, "...JNTO also says the record-setting strength of the Japanese yen has caused many potential visitors to stay away."
As for me, it seems like there's plenty of Japan not affected by the Fukushima disaster and as a tourist, even if I traveled through Fukushima I wouldn't be exposed to anything even remotely hazardous. It's the people who are there year-round who are at risk due to accumulation.
0
Cos
Me too. As from March to July, tourists could not come due to automatic cancellations of flights and tours, they were down 90% on that period maybe close to 100% on March-April, which is the peak season (cherry blossom)... so 30% for the average over the year means they got very good result for the other months.
0
Charles M Burns
Come on people, the ONLY reason tourism dropped is because Japan is a nuclear mess.
0
borscht
This is the first time I've seen 'their' in front of 'droves.' Is this a new usage?
As others have said, it wasn't the earthquake, it was the nuclear explosion, radiation, and strong yen. 'No short-term health problems' works in Japan but not in the rest of the world.
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