Global economic slowdown also hitting Okinawa tourism

Friday 06th March, 05:04 AM JST

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12 Comments

saborichan at 10:47 AM JST - 6th March

I'm sure part of the problem is the payment format for foreigners working in the armed forces. If you're paid in US dollars and need to convert that to yen for daily life, you're taking a massive hit living in Japan. If the armed forces were paid in yen, it wouldn't be so bad... I'm basing this on some rumour I heard of payment, though - anyone able to confirm / deny?
ilcub76 at 11:12 AM JST - 6th March

That is true. The US government only pays its employees (military incl) in US dollars. For the most part, the soldiers can get by with using dollars on the base, but when they leave they must use the local currency. It's bad in Japan right now, but good in S. Korea.
soldave at 01:05 PM JST - 6th March

A downturn in economic fortunes doesn't look like it will stop even more large resorts being built in Okinawa, which will all be filled to about 20% of capacity for most of the year.
anshin at 02:10 PM JST - 6th March

Actually, you can use US dollars off base but, the exchange rate is worse than the official rate.
Yelnats at 02:19 PM JST - 6th March

I used to work on the bases. You people are all off on this. They get COLA. State department takes surveys on spending habits periodically and make adjustments. Along with free housing, it is not a bad deal. They also have access to the commissary and PX. American spending down in Okinawa probably has not changed.
Kanadjin at 06:18 PM JST - 6th March

However many Okinawans who work on the base are also paid in USD. As they cannot buy anything on base they have taken a HUGE paycut!
Sarge at 06:30 PM JST - 6th March

"You can use US dollars off base"

Not in any of the stores or restaurants I've seen.

"They get COLA"

I'd rather have a root beer myself. Nyuk nyuk!

This tourism slowdown is making the U.S. bases more important to the Okinawan economy. Are they sure they want the U.S. out?
Osakadaz at 07:37 PM JST - 6th March

the real people to blame for the lack of money and development in Okinawa are the Japanese tourist companies,in my opinion.You can fly pretty much anywhere from Honshu to kyushu at a reasonable price,but the prices to Kokkaido and Okinawa are downright extortionate!Japanese like to claim that Okinawa is a part of Japan, but their attitudes when they go to Okinawa are anything but..it really is 'kaigai within Japan' and try meeting a native Okinawan working on Ishigaki or most tourist places..all people from mainland Japan.If the likes of JAL,ANA and JTB would bring fares down to the 10,000 yen mark then Okinawa would not have to be the poor cousin of Japan.It is not impossible.The resorts all seem to be owned by big non-Okinawan companies,as are the airlines.It is not difficult to see how Okinawa is milked by the mainlanders for little change in the quality of life for Okinawans,who still have inferior roads and hospitals.Pointing the finger at the US Marines is a glib solution.Every Okinawan I spoke to claimed the Americans have always done for for Okinawa than the Japanese. (I am not American BTW)
alphawolf at 08:20 PM JST - 6th March

The military getting paid in dollars has nothing to do with this article. The military probably make up less than 1/2% of all occupants staying in the hotels. The hotels are utilized by Taiwaneese, Mainland Japanese, Chinese from HongKong and recently from Mainland China. Servicemen are not tourists... besides this article's headline is misleading.. the tourism business in Okinawa is booming as a result of the world economic downturn. Tourism is way up and hitting record levels because mainlanders choose to come to Okinawa since it is closer than Hawaii or else where. The hotel not being finished is the result of another factor possibly related to the economy, but Okinawan tourism is alive and well. It benefits from a bad Mainland economy.

Tourism accounts for 24% of the Okinawa GDP, US military expenditures accounts for less than 5%...

alphawolf
sharky1 at 10:13 PM JST - 6th March

Just get ready for the big no show of tourists starting this month. Lots of dive trip cancellations, no money to go to Okinawa, and too expensive in Okinawa to enjoy the trip.
alphawolf at 11:37 PM JST - 6th March

sharky Read my post.... and if you read the article, all they are saying is that it may effect Okinawa, right after stating that it isn't effecting Okinawa tourism.. idiots..

aw
TokyoHustla at 04:14 AM JST - 7th March

Good. Oki is a giant slum. Too many betters not figuring out how to make it work, while the central government feels the need to ignore the place. First thing I did was get out, and put my skills as a better (ha-fu) to work at a major investment bank.