Accessible rooms’ provision pending task for Tokyo 2020

Tokyo, Sep 24 (IANS) Tokyo has reached the final stages of the preparations for the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games with the task of providing accessible rooms still pending.

Since Tokyo was chosen as the venue for the Olympics in 2013, the number of visitors to Japan tripled to around 10 million people that year. In 2018, the number of visitors exceeded 31 million, according to Japan's National Tourism Organization (JNTO) data.

This increase, which came after a decade with a figure of less than 10 million, has put Japanese hotel infrastructure to the test, reports Efe news.

The country has undertaken several initiatives in recent years to address the situation, such as a renovation subsidy for traditional hotels (ryokan) or rental of private homes, which is a strictly limited sector.

According to a recent study by the JNTO, more than 30 per cent of the country's municipalities say they are affected by a lack of accommodation. The Tokyo government believes that the rooms in the city, about 170,000, are enough to meet the needs of the Games.

But the Asian country is aware it faces a shortage of accessible rooms.

Earlier in September, a local regulation came into force that obliges hotels and hostels with more than 50 rooms to reserve one per cent of them to accommodate wheelchair users.

The regulation establishes a standard for these rooms, with specific measurements for entrances, corridors and bathrooms.

According to Japanese government estimates, more than 600,000 people will visit the capital between the end of July and beginning of August.

The 2020 Summer Olympics will be held between July 24 and August 9, while the Paralympics will take place from August 25 6 September 6.