Travelers Ready to Tour Japan Amid Disaster Woes

Tourists worldwide are showing support for the Japanese tourism industry, following the recent natural disasters that saw earthquake and tsunami devastating country’s coastal areas in March.

According to a recent survey, more than 60 percent of travelers are open to visiting the country.

Japan ranked in the top three favorite global destinations for more than half of respondents worldwide, with the majority preferring a visit to the capital, Tokyo, hotels.com that conducted the survey said in a statement.

"Much of Japan remains open for business and it is vital that the global travel industry supports its operators and hotels," Johan Svanstrom, vice president and managing director of hotels.com Asia Pacific, said.

Eighty-six percent of respondents would consider a trip to Japan within the next year, the hotel comparison Web site said.

Flight and hotel costs were a major incentive, with almost 70 percent saying they would visit Japan now if the price was right. Japan's food, culture and sight-seeing were also important motivations, it added.

“I hope that everyone can visit Japan and experience the best of Tokyo's fantastic hospitality which never changes. Moreover, I would like everyone to see that the whole of Japan is working together for a rapid recovery. Please feel free to visit Japan now or in the near future," Hideki Yokoyama, a top tourism official of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, said.