Tokyo is voted #1

From The Japan Times,  May 31, 2014: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/05/31/editorials/tourists-rate-tokyo-top-city/#.U4n-uIkazCQ

Tourists rate Tokyo top city

(1) Tokyo was voted the world’s most satisfying tourist city for 2013, according to a poll by online travel site TripAdvisor. Tokyo came in number one of 37 major world cities for overall satisfaction based on tens of thousands of online reviews by travelers.

(2) That top spot should be a boost for the still struggling tourist industry in Japan. It will surely encourage more travelers to come to Japan in the coming year.

Tokyo received positive reviews in a number of areas that put it ahead of New York City (second) and Barcelona (third) followed by Istanbul, Prague, Vienna, Berlin, Rome, Paris and Dubrovnik in Croatia.

(3) Tokyo came out on top in five sections: local friendliness, taxi services, cleanliness, transport and overall satisfaction. Tokyo also came out in the top 10 in another eight areas including restaurants, shopping and suitability for families.

(4) However, Tokyo was ranked lower for cultural attractions and sightseeing activities. Instead of emphasizing shopping only, the tourist industry here should strive to increase accessibility to and information about the many cultural sites in the capital city.

(5) A tourist industry built primarily on shopping is not as durable as one built on interesting cultural attractions. Certainly no one will travel across the globe just to see how clean Tokyo is or how friendly the taxi drivers are.

(6) Tokyo has many sites of tremendous interest, though they are often spread far apart. Building up a tourist industry involves a lot of work to communicate to potential visitors. That hard work of revealing key points and explaining their interest is more important than large shopping complexes. The tourist industry should also ensure that hotels, restaurants and attractions are ready for people from many different countries.

(7) Most tourists to Japan last year came from Taiwan, China and South Korea. Visitors from those three countries accounted for 68 percent of all tourist spending.

(8) Progress has been made in easier transportation and friendliness, but more importantly Tokyo people should learn how to stop and help lost, or even not-yet-lost travelers, as happens in other travel destinations.

(9) Even a short, helpful conversation can mean a lot to a lost traveler anywhere, and become a wonderful vacation memory. Perfect English is not required.

Most travelers are ready to communicate at any level. With the right improvements, a travel industry that is built on human interaction and cultural pride will be one that Tokyo can be even more proud of than the first-place ranking last year.

Questions to answer in writing and hand in on June 10:

1. What makes Tokyo a good place to visit, in your opinion? Think of this question from the viewpoints of tourists from abroad and tourists from other parts of Japan.

2. In paragraph 4, the writer says that Tokyo needs to improve accessibility (around the town) to places of interest, and improve the information about these sightseeing places. Suggest how Tokyo should do that.

3. The article stresses communication between the locals and tourists. Do you think this is important? Explain your answer.

4. In paragraph 6, the article says, "The tourist industry should also ensure that hotels, restaurants and attractions are ready for people from many different countries." How can it do that? Make two suggestions. If you have any examples, please include them.