TOKYO—After being scared off by the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, Chinese tourists are visiting Japan in
record numbers again, generating much-needed business and optimism for the nation's
struggling retail and tourism sectors.
During the Lunar New Year holiday that
sent millions of people travelling across Asia and beyond, tourists from
mainland China thronged
popular destinations in Japan, from ski slopes on the northern island of
Hokkaido, to electronics stores in Tokyo, to ancient temples in Kyoto. That
is quite a change from last spring, when tourism in Japan ground to a virtual
halt amid radiation fears
following the March 11 nuclear accident.
In December, the number of Chinese
visitors rose 32% from a year earlier to a record 80,000, following a similar
increase in November. Anecdotal
evidence suggests another surge
in January. The recovery in Chinese tourism, which started around September,
serves as a reminder of how Japan relies on China's powerful economic growth
to prop up its own economy ailing from a long malaise and a shrinking and aging population. China is now by
far Japan's largest trading partner, and its direct investments in Japan have
grown sharply in recent years, albeit
from low levels
The Japanese government has actively
sought Chinese tourists in recent years, easing visa requirements in order to expand such travel.
Expectations for growth are huge. As part of Tokyo's long-term economic
growth strategy, Japan hopes to increase the number of foreign visitors to
the nation to 20 million by 2020 and counts on Chinese visitors to make up
six million of the total.
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VOCABULARY
1. Optimism
(noun) - a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future
Example: The Mayor
expressed optimism about the future of the town.
2. Thronged
(verb) – people go there in large numbers
Example: Tourists thronged the bars and restaurants.
3. Halt (verb) - to stop (something
or someone) from moving or continuing
Example: The strike
halted subways and buses.
4. Anecdotal (adj.)
- consisting
of short stories based on someone's personal experience
Example: His findings are based on anecdotal evidence rather than
serious research.
5. Surge (verb)
- to
suddenly increase [= shoot up]
Example: Oil prices surged.
6. Malaise
(noun) - a problem or
condition that harms or weakens a group, society, etc.
Example: The
country's current economic problems are symptoms of a deeper malaise.
7. Easing
(verb) - to make a process, happen more easily[= smooth]
Example: The
agreement will ease the way for other countries to join the meeting.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. How did the big
earthquake in Japan affect tourism?
2. Discuss about
tourism in your country.
3. What are the
benefits of tourism?
4. What countries would
you like to visit? Why?
5. Tell something about
the beautiful places you visited.
