Japan enlists royal visit, subsidies to revive tourism in quake-hit Kyushu
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visit Kumamoto as the government rolls out travel subsidies to win back visitors following July’s quake
Local tour operators say that the number of international and domestic visitors to Kyushu fell precipitously following the disaster. While there are signs that domestic tourism is picking up, operators are calling for a campaign to reassure tourists that the region is safe to visit again.
Oliver Richardson, a British national working for the non-profit tourism hub Michi-no-Eki Aso, was inside a Costco outlet in Kumamoto city when the earthquake struck. He said the entire building shook violently, causing pallets of goods to fall and block the exits.
