New Vision for Maritime Industry of Kobe

-Study on Regional Maritime Cluster for Kobe

Abstract

Kobe used to be a shipping center in Japan. However, import and export cargos have been shifted to other places, not only in Japan but also in other East Asian countries, after the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake in 1995. As a new vision for the maritime industry in Kobe, the cruising business will contribute to revive the total business of the Kobe region. Nevertheless, the total infrastructures for cruise business in Kobe are not matured enough. Therefore, we propose a change of strategy of the administrative leadership in order to combine the sectors such as tourism, air/ load transportation, amusement and hotel etc. in the Kobe region.