Okinawa paves way for potential $68m bicycle tourism boom

NAHA, Japan — Okinawa prefecture has stepped up efforts to promote bicycle tourism, aiming to attract cyclists to its subtropical climate with routes open year-round, and cash in on an estimated 10.3 billion yen ($67.7 million) in potential economic impact.

A group of local cyclists set out last month to survey a bicycle route circling Okinawa’s main island. Among them was Takao Fujimura, president of bicycle seller Okinawa Ringyo — which was contracted by the prefecture to do the surveying — and the chairman of the Okinawa Cycling Association.