Website to promote local Japanese economies through tourism

The Japanese government has launched a website to provide information from different parts of the country to attract foreign tourists and revitalise local economies, the media reported on Thursday.

The portal Nippon Quest (www.nipponquest.com), available in Japanese, English, Korean and Chinese, is managed by Hakuhodo advertising agency and is subsidised by the ministry of economy, trade and industry, EFE reported citing Kyodo news agency.

The website will showcase information and photos of regional events and specialties, including gastronomical delights such as the typical seafood of the Atsumi peninsula in central Japan, the Aizu Tajima Gion festival in Fukushima prefecture, Kabuki theatre performances and a parade of women dressed in 'kimonos'.

It will allow registered users to comment and evaluate existing content and add new topics.

The initiative falls under the government's recent efforts to increase tourist inflow and facilitate their stay in different parts of the country, capitalising on the increase in foreign tourists.

Japan has received over 10 million foreign tourists in 2015, tourism authorities said.

The government expects the number to reach a total of 18 million by the end of the year, while it hopes to attract some 20 million foreigners in 2020, when the Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo.