Major Misconceptions Among Foreign Tourists: Understanding and Preserving Japanese Traditional Crafts
Major Misconceptions Among Foreign Tourists: Understanding and Preserving Japanese Traditional Crafts On June 28, 2024, the Japan Tourism Agency released the “Survey on the Environment for Accepting Foreign Tourists in Japan.” The survey revealed a surprisingly optimistic perception of “traditional crafts” among foreign tourists, which was quite an eye-opener for me. It became clear that foreign tourists were not aware of the critical situation surrounding Japan’s traditional crafts. I sincerely hope that foreign tourists will correctly understand this crisis and lend their support to preserving these cultural treasures. Survey Overview on Sustainable Tourism The survey was conducted from November 2023 to February 2024 and received 4,012 responses. It focused on issues encountered by foreign tourists during their travels and their interest in sustainable tourism. In the survey, interest in sustainable tourism was high, with 68% of respondents stating that they chose Japan as a travel destination because they prioritized the ability to practice sustainable tourism. Additionally, reasons for considering Japan suitable for sustainable tourism included “Proper conservation of the natural environment and animal protection” (53%) and “Well-preserved cultural heritage and traditional crafts” (51%). Among Western tourists, “Well-preserved cultural heritage and traditional crafts” was the top response at 59%.