Japan wants to attract more vegetarian, Muslim visitors

TOKYO – Japan will begin a model project in the 2024 budget year to help regional communities accept more foreign visitors with diverse dietary and cultural habits, such as vegetarians and Muslims, Jiji Press reported.

The Japan Tourism Agency will provide grants to promote the use of food ingredient icons, the development of menus for such visitors and the establishment of prayer rooms for Muslims.

As the number of foreign visitors to Japan increases, the country faces the need to expand comfortable environments for vegetarians and Muslims.

The western city of Okayama certifies accommodation facilities that are considered friendly to Muslims. The southwestern city of Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, focuses on promoting halal meals prepared in accordance with Islamic law.

The agency hopes that many other local authorities will follow suit.

The model project requires cooperation between local governments, so-called Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), and companies in the restaurant, hotel and travel industries.

Participants will create sightseeing programs that can meet the needs of foreign visitors with diverse dietary and cultural habits.

The agency will select about six places as model areas that will receive government subsidies to cover the costs for items included in the sightseeing programs.

Islamic law prohibits the consumption of alcohol, including “mirin” sweet cooking sake, and some soy sauce containing alcohol, in addition to pork. Some vegetarians avoid eating not only meat and fish, but also dishes with broths made from animals.

The model project supports the development of original Japanese food menus for Muslims and vegetarians from abroad.

The agency will also promote the use of pictograms to make it clear at a glance what ingredients are in restaurant food and souvenirs.

Grants will also be provided to support the establishment of Muslim prayer rooms at tourist information centers and roadside ‘michi no eki’ rest areas.

The estimated annual number of vegetarian visitors to Japan in 2018, before the Covid-19 pandemic, was 1.67 million, with their expenditure on food and drinks estimated at 45 billion to 60 billion yen. It is expected that the number of visitors and the amount spent will continue to grow.

The number of tourists from Southeast Asian countries with large Muslim populations, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, is also steadily increasing, according to the agency. – BERNAMA-JIJI PRESS