UN Tourism hosted ‘Global Tourism Investment Forum’ in the UN Pavilion of Osaka Kansai EXPO, where tourism industry leaders discussed and shared ideas for investments to the Japanese tourism sectors toward comprehensive and sustainable growths.
Antonio López De Ávila, UN Tourism Director of Innovation, Education and Investment, said at a keynote speech that international arrivals in APAC in 2024 were up 30% or more year on year, and Foreign Direct Investment to APAC and Middle East was more than North America or Europe.
According to Ávila, about $200 billion were invested to about 3,000 tourism projects in APAC between 2018 and 2024, which are expected to create about 450,000 jobs. He emphasized, “Investment in tourism not only creates jobs, but also leads to investment in other industries. Accepting tourists will boost the economic growth of the region.”
講演をおこなうUNツーリズムのアントニオ・ロペス・デ・アビラ氏
Labour shortage and language are Investment barriers
At the panel discussion, Phillip Vincent, Plug and Play Japan CEO, pointed out that Japan is a country to avoid risks in terms of investment, but it is sometimes difficult for foreign companies to develop their businesses because of its unique cultures.
Hayato Shingu, Kansai Airport Executive Officer (Deputy CCO for Aeronautical), said that the airport company provides better labour conditions, such as wage or place to work, to recruit as many workers as possible including foreigners, recognizing that major challenges in Japan are labour shortage and language barriers.
Masahiko Sakamura, Hyatt Japan Vice President Japan and Micronesia, shared his idea that bad influences to local communities by over-tourism become a hinderance to growth of the tourism industry.
James Kaplan, Destination Capital CEO, was concerned about rapid rise in accommodation prices in Japan in the last few years, while investment costs are lower in Japan than on other global markets.
パネルディスカッションの登壇者。（左から）トラベルボイスの府川尚弘モデレーター、JTBの山北栄二郎氏、Destination Capitalのジェームズ・カプラン氏、関西エアポートの新宮早人氏、日本ハイアットの坂村政彦氏、Plug and Playのフィリップ・ヴィンセント氏
Increase in investment opportunities
They also discussed about investment opportunities in Japan. Eijiro Yamakita, JTB CEO, referred to tourism potentialities in local areas of Japan, citing a new park opening in July 2025 in Okinawa. He said tourists would stay longer there, and big investment opportunities can be created if ground transportation is more convenient in the island.
Plug and Play Japan's Vincent revealed that Japan attracts many entrepreneurs’ attentions because Japan is a leading country in manufacturing, robots, healthcare, pharmaceuticals or deep technologies, and for start-up companies, Japan is easier country to develop their businesses than before.
Hyatt’s Sakamura proposed to attract tourism investment by utilizing Japan's unique culture and traditions. DC’s Kaplan recognized that climate change technologies and slow tourism would be keys, saying that Japan could offer a wide range of experiences as a multi-generational travel destination.
For the future, Hyatt’s Sakamura said, “Japan has sectors with high potentialities to grow rapidly. I'm excited to solve the challenges to make Japan a more attractive and profitable region.”
Plug and Play Japan's Vincent said that uncertainty and instability are increasing both domestically and internationally, but if people from various fields work together, we can create innovations that have never been seen before.
フォーラムでは日本やバヌアツ、中国における事例も紹介された
万博会場内の国連パビリオン外観
