EXCLUSIVE: Japan Govt to Promote Nature Tours for Foreigners

August 23, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's Tourism Agency will step up support for companies that develop travel products for foreign visitors hoping to enjoy kayaking, trekking and other nature activities, Jiji Press learned Thursday.

The agency wants to make such tours a pillar of the experience-based tourism that the country is promoting to boost spending by foreign tourists, informed sources said.

The agency is preparing to secure funds for a model project for such tours in its budget request for fiscal 2019 from next April, according to the sources.

In the project, trial tours attended by foreign language-speaking guides will be conducted. The agency will take surveys to gauge participants' satisfaction levels and evaluate the economic effects of the tours.

The agency is expected to receive proposals for specific tours from private-sector organizers and provide subsidies to cover part of the tour costs.

For example, the agency envisions mountain-climbing tours featuring explanations about alpine plants by foreign language-speaking guides, the sources said.

Other possibilities include tours combining nature activities such as snorkeling with dining opportunities including barbequing, the sources added.

The agency aims to establish good examples of nature tours that allow foreign travelers to enjoy Japan's abundant nature, including "satoyama" village forests, seas and rivers as well as indigenous animals and plants.

The agency is trying to understand the needs of foreign travelers on nature activities through a survey. The agency will also take a survey of domestic tour organizers about their business scales and experiences dealing with foreign travelers.

The results of the surveys will be compiled by the end of next March. Based on the findings, the agency will fully engage in the model project in fiscal 2019, according to the sources. Jiji Press