The 2012 white book on tourism endorsed by the Cabinet on June 15 shows that foreign tourists are once again visiting Japan. The Japanese government has a plan to attract 18 million tourists from abroad by 2016. To ensure its success, it will be vital to utilize not only historic sites and places of natural beauty but also events and attractions in urban areas.
Training personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to interact effectively with visitors from overseas will also be important, as will improving information and access for tourist attractions, and related tourism infrastructure.
Due to the 3/11 disasters, only some 6.22 million foreign tourists visited Japan in 2011, nearly 30 percent fewer than in 2010 when some 8.61 million foreign tourists came to Japan.