Matsui calls on more Japanese tourists to visit U.S., Yankee Stadium
April 1, 2006New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui called on more Japanese tourists to visit the United States, and in particular his club's home stadium, in a ceremony Thursday at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Matsui, who was appointed as a tourism goodwill ambassador by New York City in 2004, recommended that Japanese visit such major tourist spots in the city as Central Park and said in Japanese, ''Above all, Yankee Stadium.''
Keidanren calls for updating tourism law
April 1, 2006Japan should update its tourism law, which was established more than 40 years ago, to increase the number of foreign tourists and stimulate domestic travel as well, the Japan Business Federation said in a report Wednesday. Japan's biggest business lobby, better known as Nippon Keidanren, said the nation needs to introduce a new law promoting tourism with unified goals and measures to be implemented across a broader area than at present. Training more experts on tourism at national and local government levels is also necessary, it said.