Japanese Leaders Hold Summit Meeting to Urge Visitors to Return

Japanese Leaders Hold Summit Meeting to Urge Visitors to Return

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) held a high-level meeting in its New York headquarters to address the current situation in Japan concerning the Fukushima tsunami and nuclear accident.

A diverse group of government ministers and consular officials with portfolios ranging from manufacturing and energy to health and transportation updated Japan’s attempts to bring stability to the power plant itself, the impact on the country’s economy and the safety of Japan now as radiation levels that are normal throughout the country except in the area within the 12-mile no-entry zone.

The damage done to the highways and rails has been repaired and all of Japan’s airports are operating again, and in the words of Kenji Goto, Japanese Embassy’s Minister of Economy, Trade, Industry and Energy, “Japan is open for business.” They also went to great lengths to detail how closely the government is monitoring radiation levels in food, air and water.

Shuichi Kameyama, the executive director of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) noted that Japan had registered 17 consecutive months of growth in arrivals leading up to the March 11 tsunami. In the immediate aftermath of the event, arrivals plummeted 46 percent and were at the moment down 70 percent from their normal levels. Kameyama pointed out that on April 14, the U.S. State Department had downgraded its Travel Alert for all areas outside of the restricted zone.

In the wake of the crisis, the JNTO shifted its mission from promotion to maintaining a daily update of the situation. Kameyama is inviting travel leaders and press from the U.S. to go to Japan to assess the situation for themselves, and has reached out to about a dozen wholesalers who feature Japan to offer reduced packages in order to stimulate business. He mentioned a four-night Tokyo special with air from the U.S. for under $1,000 and quoted a USTOA statement that, “The best way to support Japan is to go to Japan.”

When asked what he would advise U.S. travel agents on the situation, Kameyama said, “Please get precise and accurate information. If you’re not confident in the safety of travel to Japan, you won’t be able to sell it anyway. So you must be informed, not by rumors, but by responsible sources. The Japanese people want to see people from other countries coming to Japan. It will boost their spirits and visitors will be most welcome. This is actually a very special time to go.”