BBC News: Quake-hit Japan Entices Tourists Back

Above, holiday lighting adorns Ginza, Tokyo in December 2010. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The BBC News has a story on the plight of the Japanese tourism industry, "Quake-hit Japan Entices Tourists Back."

In it, they wrote:

With tourism revenue in Japan falling by a third since the earthquake and tsunami, the government is looking at ways - including free flights - of attracting visitors back.

On 11 March Japan was hit by its most powerful earthquake since records began. The quake and subsequent tsunami led to almost 16,000 deaths. Nearly 5,000 people are still missing.

But with the human tragedy came an economic problem, with tourism dropping sharply.

In April 2011, tourism numbers fell by over 60% compared to the year before. They are yet to recover to pre-tsunami levels, despite a new 12.1tn yen ($157bn; £100bn) budget for the reconstruction.

Eight months on, life in Japan's capital seems back on track.

Construction on the Tokyo Sky Tree is proceeding - when it is finished in May 2012, it will be the tallest broadcast tower in the world and the second tallest building, after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

But even now, some tourism boards are still a little reluctant to recommend Japan as a holiday destination.

Around 1.5bn yen (£12.3m) has been set aside by the government to dispel "harmful rumours" about the current situation and radiation risks.

Above, Tokyo Sky Tree and Asahi Beer Hall from Asakusa, Tokyo, December 2010. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is unfortunate that so much money has to be allocated to refute the false stories about the Fukushima nuclear power plant's radiation problems and the rumors that still persist.

Regular readers of this blog know I've been beating the drums telling potential tourists that Japan is a safe place to visit while also promoting The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read the full article, go here.