$19 mn in economic effects from 16 international conventions

Tokyo, Oct 3: Sixteen international conventions held in 12 Japanese cities in fiscal 2010 resulted in economic effects for the country worth USD 19 million, according to a recent estimate by the Japan National Tourism Organization that it said was the first of its kind.

As around 2,000 such conventions are held annually in Japan, according to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, the overall effects of hosting such events is likely to be much larger.

The ministry is keen to secure the hosting of international meetings to reverse the decline in foreign visitors in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the subsequent nuclear crisis, particularly in the disaster-hit Tohoku region in the northeast, officials said.

The estimate was based on a questionnaire survey of participants at the 16 gatherings, the JNTO said.

The total figure comprises around USD 4 million of direct spending by convention participants, such as at hotels and restaurants, and USD 15 million worth of spillover effects. The 12 host cities enjoyed direct and indirect effects totaling around USD 7.8 million, it said.

PTI (Kyodo)