SUZUKA, Japan: The host of this week’s Japanese Grand Prix is hoping a calendar shift to one of many nation’s peak vacationer seasons and an affordable forex could convey in additional worldwide guests to an occasion that historically has attracted a primarily home viewers.
The Formula One race has been moved from its standard autumn slot, through the storm season when heavy rains have marred the spectacle up to now, to Apr 5 to 7, coinciding with the height of Japan’s world-renowned cherry blossom, or “sakura”, bloom.
Japan’s weak yen, at the moment at multi-decade lows in opposition to the US greenback, can be driving a rebound in vacationers following strict journey curbs imposed through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The race on the Suzuka observe, a favorite amongst drivers as a result of its technical twists and high-speed straights, drew its greatest crowd in practically twenty years final yr, pushed partly by a bounce in abroad guests.
“With the further depreciation of the yen and the cherry blossom season, we hope the number of international fans will be at the same level or even higher than last year,” mentioned Eijiro Oda, basic supervisor of Suzuka Circuit, run by Honda Mobilityland.
An estimated 40,000 tickets had been offered to worldwide guests final yr, a four-fold bounce because the years instantly earlier than the pandemic, in accordance with Honda Mobilityland.
In order to advertise the race internationally, the circuit has for the primary time begun posting English-language content material on social media: Offering suggestions for journey and sightseeing.
Masumi Watabi, 49, who runs a restaurant promoting Japanese fish cake stew in entrance of the Shiroko station, from the place F1 followers often take shuttle buses to the circuit, mentioned he additionally hopes the expansion in international followers can proceed.
“Last yr, we had an explosive progress in clients from overseas in my restaurant. This yr … we hope that many abroad guests will come within the spring when Japan is at its most stunning,” he mentioned.
On Sunday’s (Apr 7) race day final yr, 80 per cent of shoppers had been foreigners, he added.
Russian Aleksandr Kriukov, 42, is one such abroad F1 fan heading to Suzuka this yr.
“I want to see sakura (cherry blossoms) … and I want to see Suzuka. It’s a very good time for me. Spring is the best time,” he mentioned at a F1 fan competition occasion in Tokyo.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/japan-f1-host-hopes-calendar-shift-weak-yen-will-boost-foreign-fans-4240106
