Although it's been more than a year since it was devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunami, Japan continues to struggle with economic aftershocks. As recovery and rebuilding progress, however, one bright spot is tourism, according to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who delivered the opening address at the World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) 12th WTTC Global Summit, which took place this week in Sendai, the main city of Tohoku Region, the area of Japan that was most severely affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
"Tourism is the frontier for Japan," Noda said in his address to 1,200 WTTC delegates, during which he stressed the economic benefits of tourism, including international visitation and job creation.
Noda acknowledged that Japanese tourism needs "further development," but called on WTTC attendees to take home the message that Japan is "a safe, attractive destination for businesses, for conferences and for all areas of tourism."
WTTC Chairman Michael Frenzel had a similar message. "There is no doubt in our minds that Japan is well and truly open for business once again — and that Asia will be the main driver of growth for the global travel and tourism industry over the next 20 years or so," he said.
At the closing session of the Global Summit, WTTC President and CEO David Scowsill said that's what true for Japan is true worldwide: Tourism is, and will continue to be, a major economic engine.
"We are responsible for 255 million jobs, $6 trillion, which is 9 percent global GDP — this makes us bigger than automotive, bigger than mining and bigger than manufacturing. For every $1 spent in travel and tourism, we generate $3 to the economy," said Scowsill, who called tourism a "force for good in the world that is respected and welcomed by all." "I believe we have started to show the kind of leadership that is befitting of an industry that can generate growth, jobs, prosperity and sustainability at both global and regional level, like no other industry on this planet can."
The 13th WTTC Global Summit will take place April 8-10, 2013, in Abu Dhabi. For more information, visit www.wttc.org.