On March 28, the Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau (YCVB) declared that the Muslim Tourist Information site within the English version of the official Yokohama Visitors’ Guide website is earning positive responses from Muslims in Southeast Asia.
In December 2013, the Muslim Tourist Information website was established to facilitate Muslims to enjoy their tour and stay in Yokohama without trouble, in spite of differences in culture and practices. Based on recommendations by Muslims living in Yokohama, it launches places such as tourist facilities, restaurants, halal shops, and mosques.
In a survey about this website conducted on Muslims in Southeast Asia, above 90% said that they find the information on “restaurants,” “mosques,” and “suggested itineraries” to be helpful. The count of tourists who visited Japan exceeded 10 million people last year. In reaction to the recent boost in tourists from other Asian countries, YCVB has displayed the charms of Yokohama through its websites and brochures in the English, Chinese, and Korean languages.
To entice Muslim tourists, YCVB has been trying its best to help Muslims to make them feel more comfortable during their stay in Yokohama, and organizing a training people involved in tourism in the city to receive Muslim travelers and distributing brochures for Muslim travelers at tourist information centers.
After Tokyo, Yokohama is Japan’s second biggest city; the city has been developing as a sightseeing destination with an exotic air. Keeping an eye on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the city is working on improving its support for foreign tourists so that many such people will be able to feel happy in enjoying Yokohama.
