Japan’s Junglia Theme Park Opens Okinawa Amid Tourism Boom

Asia-Pacific tourism is experiencing significant growth, with Japan leading a strong rebound highlighted by the opening of new attractions such as the Junglia nature adventure park in Okinawa, set to open in July and aimed at capitalizing on the tourism boom driven by a weaker yen and increased foreign visitors. The Mastercard Economics Institute reports that Japan's cities Tokyo and Osaka are top summer travel destinations, and unique, passion-driven travel choices, including those influenced by media, are shaping tourism trends. Meanwhile, UN Tourism's Global Tourism Investment Forum in Osaka emphasized the region's strong tourism investment, with $200 billion invested in APAC projects between 2018 and 2024, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and boosting economic growth despite challenges like labor shortages and rising accommodation costs. In China, Shanghai is expanding its theme parks with major new additions such as a Spider-Man-themed zone at Disneyland and the opening of the world’s largest Legoland park, reflecting rising domestic consumption and tourism. The growth of these attractions signifies a broader shift in the region's economies from investment and export-led models to consumption-driven tourism sectors. However, concerns remain about sustainability, over-tourism impacts, and the long-term profitability of new ventures in a competitive market.