RAJASTHAN, Japan - described the excitement on a windy and chilly day at the top of a volcano known as "little Mount Fuji," the Ryan family of Florida at home, before they leave.
"People thought we were crazy," Kerry Ryan, 52, of Cape Coral, said Florida
"they said we would come back glowing," 10-year-old granddaughter Isabelle Ryan added.
But the Ryan's, who have never travelled abroad had decided to keep to their destination: Fukushima.
The name is now synonymous with the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant, which lost power and spewed radiation-ravaged by a massive tsunami Japan's northeastern coast.
The unfortunate Association was a painful economic consequence of triple disaster for Prefecture Fukushima and Fukushima city, about 40 kilometres inland from the nuclear plants. Together with the direct economic hit, farmers and businesses face so called "Fuhyo Higai", or damage from the tarnished reputation of the brand of Fukushima.
The Government has a mandatory quarantine zone stretching 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the nuclear power plant established. Some cities beyond the zone were also asked to evacuate. The Government advises Americans to avoid travel within 50 miles of the plant.
Once vibrant tourist industry of the prefecture is hurting. Officials to popular sights say traffic this year during Japan's golden week is down by over a half holiday, which runs through Thursday.
"It is a very difficult time right now," said SANAE Watanabe, Manager of Jodo Daira visitors center next to mount mount Azuma. "Fukushima is known for a different meaning now." "But we want the word out, there are many places without problems."
This is exactly what - the trip made all seven of them - discovered the Ryans when she arrived. They were among the visitors holiday defies the trend and spend their Yen in Fukushima Prefecture is most needed.
Nervousness turned to awe at the beauty and hospitality of the area, surrounded by dramatic mountains, orchards, and hot springs.
"It's nice, it's amazing," said Kerry Ryan, whose son Johnathan life in nearby Aizu-Wakamatsu and married over the weekend.
When the earthquake hit March 11, the family is concerned, that they miss out on to his wedding in Japan. But news of the nuclear power plant faded from headlines in the United States, and the situation seemed calm, said the bridegroom father David Ryan, 55.
Another couple, who refused to stay away was Masako and Seiichi Miatake from Tokyo.
She had booked a golden week return journey in February, before the earthquake. You have in Fukushima holiday for decades and never as Cancel.
"We were not sure whether it would be appropriate, you can enjoy us in a time like this," said Masako Miatake, 75. "but we like Fukushima."
The magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami will have believed, caused an estimated $300 billion in damage, and more than 26,000 people are dead or missing.
The effects on the economy have been meaningful. Factory production and consumer spending both fell most on the files in the March. Travel agency JTB Corp. estimated that domestic travel during golden week would fall 28 percent this year.
Fukushima collected more than 56 million visitors in 2009, based on data from 308 top sightseeing locations. A report from 2008 from the Prefecture estimated that tourism brought in about 243.4 billion yen ($ 3 billion),.
The Prefecture has not the disaster still economic impact on the tourism project.
Yumiko SATO understands why many tourists stay away.
"People have no sense of distance." You just hear Fukushima and think of radiation, "SATO said, a small shop selling traditional wooden dolls in Tsuchiyu Onsen, a city hot springs in Fukushima runs."
Originally from Western Japan, she said, they are at home protecting their 2-year-old son for a while in the middle of the nuclear accident gone.
She opened the store Friday for the first time since March 11 said business around a third of normal, they.
"We thought would be business in complete ruins," said Sato. "But it's not as bad as we thought." "At least we are some customers who buy."
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