Strategy

Inbound Tourism Marketing: How to Attract Visitors to Japan

Capturing inbound demand for lodging and tourism, and balancing OTAs with direct booking.

9 min read2026-01-13By RIVACTA Team

The short answer

Inbound tourism marketing is about being found at the pre-visit search-and-consideration stage. Balancing OTA reliance with direct booking, plus multilingual content, drives results.

Travelers gather information via search, reviews, and maps before visiting. A multilingual site and exposure on map and review platforms are the start of discovery.

OTAs offer wide reach but come with commissions and limited customer data. Grow direct-booking channels too to secure margin and a repeat-visit base.

Lodging is subject to permit and disclosure rules such as the Hotel Business Act and Private Lodging Business Act. Confirm advertising expression and operating requirements in advance.

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