How has the Japanese disaster affected travel in 2011
The effects of the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japan this year have been felt all over the world. The world’s third largest economy has been sent into free-fall by the devastating natural disasters that struck in March, and the effects will be felt long into the future. A key question being asked in Japan and around the world right now is, how will tourism into and out of Japan be affected by the disasters?
Japan’s tourism industry is huge, with around 8.3 million visitors arriving in the country each year. Japanese tourists also provide a vital source of income to tourist resorts all over the world, with over 16 million people from Japan taking trips abroad to countries like Hong Kong, America, Australia, France and New Zealand.
The harm caused to Japan’s tourism industry by the earthquake and tsunami started to manifest itself very quickly as news of the disasters spread. The US Department of State issued a travel alert almost immediately, warning US citizens to “avoid tourism and non-essential travel to Japan at this time.” After over 700,000 Americans visited Japan in 2010, spending over $1 billion, the Japanese Tourist Board was hopeful of an increase this year as 96,800 tourists arrived in the first two months of 2011. There is little chance of Japan improving on those figures throughout the rest of the year.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has urged international travellers to help Japan by continuing to visit the country, which it insists is now safe from the risk of nuclear radiation following a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
The Madrid-based UNWTO said in a statement: “The current situation poses no risk to travel to and from Japan.”
“Radiation monitoring around airports and seaports in Japan continues to confirm that levels remain well within safe limits from a health perspective.”
The statement added: “In addition, monitoring of passengers, crew and cargo from Japan carried out to date in other countries, in accordance with their national policy, does not suggest any health or safety risk.”
It’s not just Japan’s economy that will suffer a loss of tourism as a direct result of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami. Tourism in the UK could also suffer the loss of large parts of a vital market as Japanese holiday makers cancel their plans to travel to Europe. Japanese tourists are crucial to leisure businesses right across the UK, from holiday cottages in Scotland, to Wales’ beautifully unique Welsh cottages and the Lake District’s stunning Ambleside cottages (Check out all from www.scottish-cottages.co.uk). At its height, Japanese tourism was worth £456 million to the UK economy but in 2010 it brought in just £165 million. That figure could well plummet even further in 2011.
Other countries that could suffer badly if Japanese tourists cancel their holiday plans include Thailand, Hawaii, Australia, Nepal and Indonesia. 
– Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel blog
About The Author
Cecil Lee
The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.
