Signs that Japan is recovering well from this year’s earthquake and tsunami are positive, with visitor numbers to the country continuing to improve, albeit slightly.

Although international arrivals into the country in June 2011 declined by 36 per cent (433,100) over the year before, figures from previous months show evidence of an upwards trend: according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), May experienced a year-on-year decline of 50 per cent, whilst April experienced a 62 per cent drop in visitor numbers.

And with the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reporting that some destinations in the Asia Pacific region had boosted their market share of Japanese arrivals, the outlook for outbound travel is also promising.

Aiding this growth are various recovery initiatives such as the ‘100+1 Days Travel Volunteer’ project, a campaign launched by The Real Japan.

Featuring in this year’s Blossom Japan exhibition, The Real Japan is offering entrants of the competition the chance to visit Japan from north to south, reporting the reality of the situation in Japan to the world.     

“Through various marketing and promotional activities that The Real Japan have been undertaking all over the world, they are really trying to get the message across that they want us back,” said Jay Martens, chief executive of Lucioles, the organizers of the Blossom Japan conference and exhibition.  

“They have put together some excellent footage that shows us the rebuilding of a nation.”

Blossom Japan is an invitation only event bringing buyers from 39 countries to Kyoto from 13 – 16 February 2012.

Next year’s exhibition will mark the event’s second year.