{"id":150300,"date":"2025-06-13T22:01:52","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T22:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/we-believed-that-japans-tourism-boom-was-an-opportunity-for-ai-it-has-turned-into-an-unexpected-remedy\/"},"modified":"2025-06-13T22:01:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T22:01:54","slug":"we-believed-that-japans-tourism-boom-was-an-opportunity-for-ai-it-has-turned-into-an-unexpected-remedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/we-believed-that-japans-tourism-boom-was-an-opportunity-for-ai-it-has-turned-into-an-unexpected-remedy\/","title":{"rendered":"We believed that Japan’s tourism boom was an opportunity for AI. It has turned into an unexpected remedy."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Japan is one of those countries that many believe they know without ever having set foot there. Renowned for its \u00a0millennial temples\u00a0, \u00a0bullet trains\u00a0 exceeding \u00a0300 km\/h\u00a0, advanced technology, and robots, it\u2019s no wonder that \u00a0millions of people\u00a0 pack their bags each year to explore its cities, mountains, and even lesser-known rural areas. However, what is surprising is how \u00a0AI\u00a0 is beginning to carve its way into sectors that traditionally relied solely on human talent.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s paradox is as intricate as its culture: a nation that deeply values \u00a0hospitality\u00a0, which simultaneously faces a shortage of professionals to provide it. The \u00a0tsunami of tourists\u00a0 flooding Japan has highlighted a serious problem: the scarcity of \u00a0bilingual guides\u00a0. This issue is not novel; many guides retired during the pandemic’s tough years, while others switched careers. The situation has since intensified, and Japan is starting to respond.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Where There Was Once a Smiling Guide, Now There\u2019s an AI App<\/h2>\n

The shortage of guides is not a mere anecdote but a reality that tinges the experiences of thousands of travelers. According to Nikkei Asia<\/a>, Japan had just over \u00a046,000 bilingual guides\u00a0 in 2019. This figure included licensed professionals, those certified by local governments, and even individuals with sufficient knowledge to fulfill this role. Fast forward four years, and the number has dropped by nearly \u00a020%\u00a0. As of 2023, only about \u00a037,700\u00a0 guides remain. This downward trend continues.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The reasons for this decline are easily understood. The pandemic severely disrupted travel schedules, halted bookings, and left thousands of \u00a0freelance\u00a0 guides without stable income. Many sought other paths; some retired. The aftermath has resulted in an aging workforce: nearly \u00a060%\u00a0 of licensed guides are over \u00a060 years old\u00a0. In 2024, only \u00a0380 people\u00a0 passed the official examination.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Agencies are feeling the effects. Some have reported having to \u00a0cancel or reschedule tours\u00a0 simply because there was no one available to lead them. Previously, when their staff was stretched thin, they could rely on independent professionals. Now, that option is dwindling. Although since 2018, Japan allows<\/a> conducting paid tours without an official license, many tourists and agencies still prefer certified guides due to their knowledge, credentials, and, above all, trust.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Today, in places like Okinawa, some tourists prefer the robotic voice of applications from operators like \u00a0Cerulean Blue\u00a0 over the prospect of no tour at all. The system detects the user’s location through the \u00a0GPS\u00a0 of their mobile, displays real-time information with \u00a0augmented reality\u00a0, and activates audio guides as visitors progress.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This nearly imperceptible choice speaks volumes about the present… and perhaps the future. \u00a0AI may not tell jokes\u00a0, exhibit pride in discussing the city, or respond with a smile. But when a guide fails to appear, technology seems ready to fill the gap.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the tourism sector is not an isolated case. The situation with guides reflects a broader pattern that is increasingly noticeable in Japan. In \u00a0agriculture\u00a0, for instance, companies are employing<\/a> AI-based apps capable of identifying plant diseases from just a photo. In schools, where English teachers are overwhelmed, some institutions have started using virtual assistants to converse with students.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \"Ha\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In public administration, local governments like Yokosuka<\/a> have started using \u00a0ChatGPT\u00a0 to summarize meetings and draft documents. According to calculations by the city council, time savings amount to \u00a0thousands of hours\u00a0 annually. This all stems from a singular structural problem: a shortage of manpower. While Japan is undoubtedly a \u00a0technological powerhouse\u00a0, it also grapples with an \u00a0aging population\u00a0 and a remarkably low birth rate.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As Japan navigates its way through these challenging waters, the role of AI is likely to expand further, providing innovative solutions to age-old problems and redefining the landscape of labor in a country rich in tradition yet poised for *modernization*.<\/p>\n

Image credits: Micah Camper<\/a> | Angel<\/a> | Geoff Oliver<\/a><\/p>\n


\n
General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Japan is one of those countries that many believe they know without ever having set foot there. Renowned for its \u00a0millennial temples\u00a0, \u00a0bullet trains\u00a0 exceeding \u00a0300 km\/h\u00a0, advanced technology, and robots, it\u2019s no wonder that \u00a0millions of people\u00a0 pack their bags each year to explore its cities, mountains, and even lesser-known rural areas. However, what […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":150301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36399],"tags":[8710,4641,4115,479,27888,532,2702,3459],"class_list":["post-150300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-believed","tag-boom","tag-japans","tag-opportunity","tag-remedy","tag-tourism","tag-turned","tag-unexpected"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150300\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}