Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting of the Ministerial Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-Oriented Country at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the current state regarding tourism.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"Tourism is a critically important area of growth that supports the economic growth and the revitalization of regional communities in Japan.
Also in order to deepen mutual understanding with relevant countries, I would like the people throughout the world to see the beauty of Japan with their own eyes, by diffusing the 'Japan Brand' to the world.
We should by all means promote Japan as a tourism-oriented country that attracts people from around the world.
Particularly, the 'Visit Japan Campaign,' which was started under the Koizumi administration, will mark its tenth anniversary this year. Reaching this milestone, it is important to make every effort towards the goal of having the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan per year exceed 10 million, for the first time in history.
Therefore, I would like for my Cabinet to strongly promote measures towards making Japan a tourism-oriented country, which is even more attractive than neighboring countries, by restoring a powerful Japanese economy through a growth strategy.
From now on, an action program towards realizing a tourism-oriented country will be formulated in this Council, and the government will unite its efforts in the promotion."