Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the opening ceremony of the WTTC Global Summit held at a hotel in Tokyo and delivered and address.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is a non-profit organization composed of about 100 top executives from business entities involved in tourism in the world; it is the only global organization of business bodies that covers the principal field of activities in tourism.

The Global Summit, which the WTTC holds annually, is attended by approximately 1,000 people who represent international organizations, governments of various countries, business organization and news media, and is sometimes referred to as the "Davos Forum of Tourism."
The Prime Minister said in his address, "Fortunately, Japan is full of tourism resources that can be enjoyed in all four seasons. Japan is surrounded by sea, and some of the coastlines are covered with drift ice for a certain season. There are also seas with beautiful coral reefs. Although our land is small, it is full of spots to see. Promotion of tourists visiting Japan is one of the potentials that must be further developed. Tourism is precisely the frontier for Japan.
There is something I would like to ask from my heart to all of the people who gathered here today. I believe that you all fully understand that Japan is a safe and comfortable place to visit not only for business and international meetings but also for tourism. Taking this opportunity on your visit, I would like for you to share widely the attractiveness of Japan and the present state of safety and comfort in Japan, and especially the remarkable tourism resources in the Tohoku Region, in your country. I sincerely hope that as many people throughout the world as possible visit Japan, and the disaster-stricken Tohoku Region.
I believe in the power of tourism. Tourism brings new encounters and the joy of the seasons, and encourages the region and vitalizes the economy. Tourism also results in fostering a relationship of trust among people beyond national borders. In Japan, and in the disaster-stricken regions, there are many delicious cuisines in each area. There is also good "sake." There are the delightful subtleties of human interaction. Japan is a wonderful place, and the disaster-stricken regions are also wonderful places, which I wish for you all to understand. I would like to express my respect to all of the participants here who are engaged in social contribution through the promotion of tourism, and hope for the success of this Summit and the good health of all of the participants here."