Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Tourism Management and Hospitality
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Cruise Business and Hospitality in a Small Port Town in Japan
Kazumi Kato
ABSTRACT:
With 2,013 visits, 2017 was the peak year for international cruise ships to call at Japanese ports. In 2023, the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism reported that the number of international cruise port calls was 1,264 times, 68% of the 2017 figures (2024). During the covid pandemic, 66 ships visited in 2000 and no ships visited from 2021-2022, so the 2023 numbers show great resilience in the industry. Cruise line business has gradually increased since 2014, the pandemic notwithstanding. In 2014 there were 653 port calls, and the government expects 2,000 visits per annum by 2025. Luxury liners can stop at 94 International ports in Japan, and the presenter works as an English teacher in a university located 7km away from Shimizu port, considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful ports. Accordingly, English-speaking environments created by tourists have increased, and locals have struggled with this situation. The presenter will discuss activities undertaken with students participating in a tourism course she created. The course allows students to gain hands-on experience in using English to help local people and tourists. Activities around the port include student-guided tours, and students helping local shops by interpreting. This presentation will give the audience a new experience by touring Shimizu Port with the presenter and her English learning students.
keywords: Cruise Tourism; English Education; Inbound Tourism; Japanese Tourism; Project Based Learning