Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is back in Louisiana after a nine-day trip to Japan that he hopes will result in more Japanese people visiting Louisiana. Nungesser says on Monday, a luncheon was held that showcased Louisiana’s music, culture, and food to 100 Japanese journalists, bloggers and social media influencers.
“We hired a local Japanese jazz band to play some Louisiana songs and show videos; that really stole the show,” Nungesser said.
The trip was conducted in partnership with Mississippi River Country, and Louisiana was one of seven states participating. The Louisiana delegation participated in the Tourism EXPO Japan, one of the country’s largest tourism trade and media events. Nungesser says visitors to Louisiana’s booth received a sample of Tabasco ice cream.
“A lot of them didn’t even realize it was made right here in Louisiana. They love jazz, they love the Mississippi River, they love Tabasco; so we highlighted all those things that Louisiana’s famous for to excite them about coming to Louisiana,” Nungesser noted.
Japan is the second-largest overseas visitor market to the United States. Japan is the tenth-largest overseas market for travel to Louisiana, with about 10,000 visitors from that country coming to the state in 2025, generating nearly $18 million in economic impact. Nungesser says the visit to Japan is about getting Louisiana on the minds of people who are already interested in coming to America.
“It was a great trip. We’re excited, and we expect to see a lot of Japanese visitors to Louisiana over the next several years,” Nungesser said.
Nearly half of Louisiana’s Japanese visitors travel alone, and more than 65-percent visit for business-related reasons. The state would like to see more Japanese families visit Louisiana.
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