Japan’s tourism is booming but staff shortage threatens to derail 2030 goal

The country may have to tap foreign workers to fill the staffing gap if it wants to welcome 60 million tourists by 2030, travel players say

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Tourists walk past shops and restaurants in Shinsekai, Osaka. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:00am, 20 Mar 2025Updated: 10:20am, 20 Mar 2025

The booming Japanese tourism sector may face a severe challenge in the years ahead to sustain its growth due to a shortfall of more than 500,000 workers by 2030, according to a report by a local think tank.

Industry insiders noted that 2030 was the official target year for Japan to receive 60 million inbound travellers, and the critical staff shortage could tarnish the nation’s reputation for omotenashi – the traditional Japanese commitment to look after the needs of guests.

“We are already seeing a shortage of people in the industry, most definitely,” said Masaru Takayama, president of Kyoto-based Spirit of Japan Travel, an inbound travel agency.

According to a report by the Kansai-based Asia Pacific Institute of Research released earlier this month, the Japanese tourism sector will face a staffing gap of about 536,000 workers by 2030.

Takayama told This Week in Asia: “A lot of companies in the travel sector had to lay off staff during the pandemic, and those people found jobs in different sectors. Now that tourism is up and running again – and busier than ever – we have lost those people to new careers, and we have lost their skills and knowledge.”

He pointed out that the staff shortage was particularly acute in rural parts of Japan.