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(13/03/24)
 With Japan hosting the World Expo in 2025, it
came as no surprise to see so many airports from the country
attending the Routes Asia airline route development and airport
services conference and exhibition in Langkawi, Malaysia in
February.

Each airport was eager to showcase the attractions
and business opportunities of their respective region, ultimately
hoping to attract airlines to launch more direct flights and in
turn increase much needed tourism revenue.

In 2025, the World Expo will take place over a six
month period from 13 April to 13 October in Osaka, Japan.

Akira Watabe

To learn more about Japan’s plans for the World Expo, Steven Howard of Travel News
Asia sat down with Akira Watabe, Director Global Projects of the
Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO),
at Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia.

In this interview, filmed on 29 February 2024,
Steven asks Mr. Watabe whether he has any concerns about Osaka
hosting such a large event as the World Expo, whether the number
of hotel rooms is sufficient, how JNTO plans to help visitors
overcome any language barriers, whether such a large event could
put off some visitors from travelling to the city, and how the infrastructure will be
able to cope.

Steven also asks what the country hopes to get out
of hosting such a mega event, what Japan Expo 2025 is all about
and how that ties in with World Expo 2025, and what kind of
visitor numbers JNTO expects the events to attract.

We also discuss Japan’s post-COVID recovery,
visitor arrival numbers and targets, concerns regarding the slow
recovery in domestic tourism, and which markets JNTO would most
like to develop moving forward.

All that and much, much more in the interview below
which is available in both HD video and
audio podcast formats.

Japan Tourism, World Expo 2025 and Japan Expo 2025 – HD Video Interview with Akira Watabe of JNTO

PODCAST

See:
HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia: 
U-Tapao Airport (UTP) Rayong /
Pattaya, Thailand – Interview with
Ampika Chadawong;
Sabah Tourism Board – Interview with
Julinus Jeffery Jimit, CEO;

Cam Ranh Airport (CXR) in Nha Trang, Vietnam – Interview with Le
Thi Hong Minh;
Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity
Program – Interview with Rashed
Alshammari, VP Commercial;
Japan Tourism, World Expo 2025 and
Japan Expo 2025 – Interview with
Akira Watabe of JNTO;
Munich Airport (MUC) – Interview with
Michael Haeffner, Director Route and
Pax Development;
Berlin Airport (BER) – Interview with
Simon Miller, Senior Manager Market
Intelligence; and
Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang
Interview with Jasmine Keh, Hotel
General Manager.

Latest
exclusive video interviews: 9 HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia;

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