Japan promotes Universal Tourism, provides diverse dietary needs

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 -- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is promoting the concept of ‘Universal Tourism’, part of a policy encouraging all tourists—regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, or impairment—to visit Japan and enjoy a secure and comfortable stay.

According to a statement, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of overseas visitors to Japan set a new annual record of 31.9 million in 2019,the eighth straight year of growth.

A survey by the Japan Tourism Agency in 2019 showed that eating Japanese food was the activity most overseas visitors looked forward to, when visiting the country for the first time, with almost 70 per cent choosing it (with multiple answers permitted).

To help tourists enjoy safe and enjoyable culinary experiences, JNTO is providing information on these for international visitors and tour operators, including restaurant search facilities.

This includes A Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Japan, as well as brochures featuring local vegetarian restaurants. Vegetarian-specialty websites such as Happy Cow and Vegewel introduce local eating spots; other sites such as Google Maps and TripAdvisor as well as Facebook groups provide useful tips for those conducting pre-trip searches.

The concept of universal tourism also embraces making allowances for those with food allergies.

An increasing number of hotels, restaurants, airlines offer special menus, and local tourist bureaus and associations are providing seminars for the hospitality and tourism sectors aimed at encouraging them to improve service levels for guests with diverse dietary needs.

With Japan welcoming an increasing number of overseas visitors in recent years, it is not only food outlets in large cities that are adapting to more diverse dietary requirements; those in local regions are also responding, with more and more information being provided online.

The government and the hospitality sector are working together to ensure that all tourists can enjoy their stay in Japan and experience the tangible and intangible cultural assets of each region. Many more restaurants now provide English menus, and advanced translation tools help visitors communicate with local people more easily.

Anticipating a recovery in the number of overseas visitors to the country in the post-pandemic period, Japan is moving fast to accommodate diversity and inclusion in its tourism sector.

-- BERNAMA