(eTN) – While Japan still tries to cope with its most serious nuclear crisis and natural catastrophe since the end of World War II, what could be the consequences for the tourism industry? Being the world’s third largest economic powerhouse, Japan is also a big player on the tourism scene. The total number of Japanese traveling abroad reached 16.7 million in 2010, while inbound tourism to Japan totalled 8.6 million foreign visitors during the same period.
International air traffic from and to Japan operates normally as major international gateways were not affected by the catastrophe. Both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have issued a joint statement reaffirming that traveling to Japan was safe in coordination with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization.