Japan Plans Travel Discount for Areas Hit by Kumamoto Quake
The government has compiled a package to support people and businesses affected by the Kumamoto Earthquake that occurred late July. The measures include a travel discount program to promote tourism in Kyushu.
The Japanese government has unveiled a new package to aid individuals and enterprises impacted by the Kumamoto Earthquake, which struck in late July. The emergency headquarters for the earthquake held a meeting on Thursday, during which they decided on the package's contents. The package consists of three key pillars: restoring livelihoods, reconstructing businesses, and disaster recovery.
To aid livelihoods, the government plans to provide up to ¥3 million for households whose homes have been destroyed. Additionally, local governments that offer free bus services for those residing in designated evacuation centers will receive subsidies for transporting evacuees to schools and hospitals. These centers provide comfortable living conditions with amenities like air conditioning and more.
For business reconstruction, the government intends to implement a travel discount program aimed at supporting the sluggish tourism industry in the wake of the earthquake. This program will subsidize travel expenses and accommodation fees for visitors to seven Kyushu prefectures. The government is currently discussing the timing and amount of subsidies with local authorities.
The government also intends to support the Kumamoto prefectural government's efforts to revive the local restaurant industry. Furthermore, the program will cover the costs of repairing wells using public funds, a measure not previously included in disaster relief packages. This decision was prompted by the fact that many households in the affected areas rely on groundwater, with wells' pipes being blocked by sediment due to the quake.
In terms of disaster recovery, the government has decided to expedite the installation of air conditioners in all gymnasiums and martial art halls of elementary and junior high schools, which were initially slated for completion by fiscal 2035. This decision was made at Thursday's meeting, and as of May, only 30% of such facilities were equipped with air conditioning.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
