Attracting more foreign tourists can help offset the loss of economic vitality foreseen as the nation ages and the population declines, tourism minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said Monday.
"Even if we work hard to expand internal demand while the population declines, it won't be enough," Tanigaki said in an interview with The Japan Times. "It will be necessary to bring in people, commodities and money from developing areas."
To this end, the Japan Tourism Agency will be established under the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry in October.