The Kingdom of Ryukyu aiming to attract 6.9 million tourists in the 2014 fiscal year

The Kingdom of Ryukyu aiming to attract 6.9 million tourists in the 2014 fiscal year

 

The Kingdom of Ryukyu Government announced a plan to attract more tourists to the Kingdom of Ryukyu in the 2014 fiscal year on May 20.

 

The Government has aimed to attract 6.9 million tourists to the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

The number has increased by 4.9 percent from the number of tourists in the 2013 fiscal year (6.58 million).

 

It has also increased by 100,000 from the number aimed for in a previous plan announced in March.

 

Of the tourists coming to the Kingdom of Ryukyu, the Kingdom of Ryukyu Government aims to attract 800,000 foreign tourists, which is a 27 percent increase on the previous year (630,000).

 

The Government plans to gain 497 billion yen in tourism revenue, which is an 11.4 percent increase from the estimates.

 

Seijun Wakugawa of the Kingdom of Ryukyu Government said, “There is a concern that low-cost carriers lack the number of pilots. However, we expect that the number of tourists visiting the Kingdom of Ryukyu to increase due to a buoyant economy.”

 

He went on to say, “We would like to continue to promote the Kingdom of Ryukyu tourism in and outside the Kingdom of Ryukyu and improve local hospitality towards tourists.”

 

For fiscal 2014, the Government is aiming for 72,000 yen in average expenses per person.

 

The number has increased by 6.2 percent from the estimates.

 

They aim for 80,000 yen in average expenses per foreign tourist.

 

The Government aims for 3.95 days for average length of stay.

 

The number increased by 0.18 days from the estimates.

 

They aim for 5.5 days for average length of stay for foreign tourists.

 

The Government aims for 20.04 million tourists staying in the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

The number increased by 9.8 percent from the estimates.

 

The Government expects the number of seats provided by aircraft flying domestic air routes will increase by 300,000, and 200,000 flying international air routes, compared with the previous year.

 

Based on that, the Government expects that the number of tourists coming to the Kingdom of Ryukyu from mainland Japan will increase by 140,000 with a 120,000 increase in foreign tourists.

 

The Kingdom of Ryukyu Government expects that cruise ships will call at ports in the Kingdom of Ryukyu 101 times, which is a 21 increase from the estimates.

 

That will contribute another 30,000 to the increase in tourists visiting the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

(English translation by T&CT)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 21 May 2014 The Roman)