Japan enlists royal visit, subsidies to revive tourism in quake-hit Kyushu

Southern Japanese regions are counting on a royal visit and financial aid to revive tourism after a devastating earthquake struck the Kyushu island earlier this summer. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are set to meet residents of the hardest-hit Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, listening to stories of displaced families and business losses.

The magnitude 7.1 quake, centered in Kumamoto, struck on July 28 and left the region with a shattered infrastructure, including damaged bridges and halted bullet train services. Initial visitor numbers from both domestic and international markets plummeted following the disaster. While domestic tourism has shown signs of recovery, tourism operators are urging a campaign to reassure visitors of the region's safety.

Oliver Richardson, a British resident working with the non-profit tourism hub Michi-no-Eki Aso, recounted the violent shaking of a Costco store during the quake, which left many stranded without tap water for three days. The earthquake caused at least 36 deaths, 200 injuries, and the evacuation of 7,000 people. Richardson expects the tourism impact to linger for months: "Our region typically attracts a lot of tourists from Taiwan, but everybody just immediately cancelled flights and hotels."

A report from the Mainichi newspaper revealed hotels across Kyushu’s seven prefectures lost 408,500 booked nights due to cancellations. Despite the lack of damage, tourism to neighboring Kagoshima prefecture was also affected due to concerns about aftershocks. The government has allocated 15.1 billion yen (US$95.7 million) to subsidize travel in Kyushu, offering 60 percent discounts on accommodation in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures, and 50 percent in the other five affected areas.

The tourism ministry hopes this financial support will encourage both domestic and international visitors to return and contribute to the recovery efforts.