CONCLUSION
Japan has achieved remarkable economic growth as a trading nation, and is
now the second largest economic power in the world, accounting for 15% of the
total world GNP. The income level of the people has also reached a top level in
the world.
However, as Japan is losing price competitiveness due to the strong Yen, and
production bases are moving to foreign countries, the environment surrounding
the Japanese economy has been greatly changing. With the nations of the world
becoming increasingly interdependent, the relationship with the international
community, including Asia, has become closer and the significance of borders has
decreased. On the other hand, more people want to live a life in which they can
really feel affluence commensurate with Japan's economic strength.
To realize such a life, it is important to add more value to products and
services to enhance international competitiveness. In the area of transportation,
Japan should ensure smooth exchange of people and goods with the international
community. It is also essential to enrich tourism and leisure activities.
The international community, especially Asia as a whole, is asking Japan for
assistance to build up and manage social capital and promote safety measures and
environmental conservation. It is necessary to respond to such demand appropriately.
In the meantime, some of the neighboring Asian countries are constructing large-scale
airports and harbours, and the air carriers and shipping enterprises in those
countries are making remarkable progress aided by low costs. With such a situation,
the Ministry of Transport considers that Japan and Asian countries should work
together to raise the transportation service level and offer high-quality services.
Thus, they can contribute to the development of Asia, as well as the development
of the international community in general.
Keeping this situation in mind, we can conclude the major challenges to Japanese
transportation as follows. First, Japan should improve and construct the infrastructure
for international exchange in order to maintain economic growth and make national
life more convenient. For this purpose, it is essential to increase the capacity
of international airports to respond to international aviation needs, and to enhance
the international airport hub functions in preparation for the 21st century. Regarding
the international ports and harbours, a big challenge is to improve the service
quality both in hardware and software, because the services offered by Japanese
harbours are getting less competitive compared with some Asian countries.
Japanese transportation enterprises should make efforts to survive in the
increasingly competitive market conditions and to provide inexpensive and stable
services meeting the needs of users. For this purpose, the enterprises must work
hard to improve the way they are managed. At the same time, to allow more flexible
management, it is necessary to improve the environment surrounding the enterprises,
through the review of regulations corresponding to technical innovation, and other
methods.
Furthermore, it is necessary to take carefully thought out measures to realize
safe and comfortable overseas travel and to promote domestic tourism, because
the feeling of satisfaction and leisure activities are closely related. As for
the relationship with international society, it is important to increase a_assistance
to other countries, including Asian nations, while taking into consideration the
actual condition of individual regions, because, as mentioned above, it is necessary
to raise the transportation service level as a network.
The Ministry of Transport is positively meeting these challenges to realize
a life in which Japanese people can really feel affluence.
