Foreign Tourism in Decline
 

Interesting article in this morning's Financial Times.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/16144f9e-e...nclick_check=1

Also, take a look at the chart- why are the highest percentage of foreign tourists in Hokkaido Taiwanese? Because they want a cold place to ski?
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/262c1c7a-e...0779fd2ac.html

Interesting figures. It's not a surprise that South Korea has a higher percentage of visitors to Kyushu, both due to its proximity and because most Americans don't make it down there, but I'm surprised the figures are so lopsided. But come to think of it, it's the only place in Japan where I've noticed signs in Korean.

This guy has discovered that Hokkaido is a serious marketing tool in Taiwan.

When we stayed at Wakura Onsen on Noto Hanto, the ryokan hostess said that the highest number of foreign guests are from Taiwan.

I think they, like Koreans, have a much deeper understanding of Japanese culture than other nations.

Perhaps brought on by all the executions when Japan occupied Korea?

Or probably since Gihae Dongjeong. :rolleyes:
Whatever the past is, it's good to know one's neighbours each other, eh? :-:

Slightly OT, but I found it fascinating when I visited Taipei that it seemed much more like a Japanese city than a Chinese city- for example the similarity of the subway system to Tokyo's (might have been built/designed by the same company?), and the prevalence of conbinis.

The Kyushu-Korean connection makes sense because of the proximity, but what is it specifically about Hokkaido vs the other islands for Taiwanese? I'll hit up my Taiwanese friends for an answer and post it here.

What makes you think that more Taiwanese tourists are visiting Hokkaido than the other islands?

Read the same article. Found it interesting re the pie chart.
As far as tourist business on the decline, Japan is no exception as it is experienced world wide.
Personally and in general, I find it a good time to travel during an econ recession. Flights are cheaper, and hotel goes begging. Love it ^

With regard to attracting overseas tourists, Japan is in an exceptional situation because the Yen has strengthened against the currencies of the countries from which most overseas visitors come.

Even though Japanese hotels have reduced their rates, they still appear more expensive to inbound tourists than they did 18 months ago, because foreign visitors' home currencies are worth less in yen.

global recession + strong currency = double whammy for inbound tourism

And it doesn't help that Japan has a reputation for being impossibly expensive, so expensive that you have to be rich to afford it.

I blame a segment on Sixty Minutes about 20 years ago, during the height of the bubble. Their correspondent went to Tokyo and did everything in the most expensive way possible, including taking a cab from NRT (the number one no-no for the budget-minded tourist) and ordering a lavish Western breakfast at a lavish hotel. I almost forgot the $80 gift-wrapped flawless melon, with the viewer left to infer that all fruit sells for $80 a piece.

Since Sixty Minutes has long been one of the most popular shows on U.S. TV, the segment seems to have made a deep impression on the American psyche. When I mention that I've been traveling to Japan on and off for thirty years, I still often get the reaction, "I've heard that a cab from the airport costs $200" or "I've heard that melons cost $80."

People are amazed when I tell them that I can travel within Japan for no more per day than I can in the U.S. and that when it comes to accommodations, I can stay at cheaper hotels than I would dare stay in elsewhere and still be assured of cleanliness and safety.

Tell me about it. For the first time ever, I am seriously considering cancelling an eagerly awaited trip back in April. I've got my C award seats on ANA but am looking at 88 yen/dollar for everything else and feeling a little sick.

I haven't made any decisions yet but the currency situation isn't making it easy for discretionary spenders to come to Japan. At least those of us who have to start with dollars. Or, apparently, won, yuan or TWD.

Y88/USD? That's better than what I had to put up with last month - around Y72/CAD. :mad: I was going to buy a nice used watch but the difference in FX alone would've added about $2K to the price than if I bought it a few months ago. :td:

Why is Y88/USD today worse than Y72/CAD last month?

Due to the "every man for himself " rule! ;)