The Kyushu Regional Strategy Council, which is composed of the Kyushu Governors Association and various business groups, announced plans to strengthen inbound tourism in accordance with its Kyushu Tourism Strategy for 2014~2023. The group aims to quadruple the number of foreign visitors, primarily from Asia, over the next ten years, and in turn, rejuvenate the economy and employment. “The most important factor for increasing inbound tourism is relaxing visa restrictions,” said Susumu Ishihara, head of the Kyushu Association of Corporate Executives and Chairman of JR Kyushu. The Kyushu Tourism Strategy, which the Council has been debating since last August, comprises four pillars: (1) building a Kyushu brand, (2) improving tourism infrastructure, (3) encouraging people to visit Kyushu, and (4) encouraging visitors to stay longer and consume more. The Council has focused particular effort on attracting foreign tourists. There were 1.056 million foreign visitors to Kyushu in FY2012, and the goal is to boost this more than four times to 4.406 million by 2023. In an effort to strengthen its position as the core organization behind these inbound tourism efforts, the Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization will become a general incorporated association next April. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, May 22
Image source: http://visitkyushu.org/
