Main image via BBC + Kotaku
With the ongoing pandemic, tourism has faltered all over the world but one Japanese seaside town is doing all it can to attract tourists back and one of their measures is to build a giant squid.
Yes, a giant squid.
via GIPHY
Noto, a seaside town in Japan, is raising many eyebrows after building a 13m-long statue of a giant squid, using funding from an emergency Covid-19 relief grant.
The town, where flying squid is a delicacy, reportedly used 25 million yen (RM941,600) from the emergency funding to build the statue.
A spokesperson for the town told Fuji News Network that the statue would be a tourist attraction and part of a long term strategy to help promote Noto’s famous flying squid.
Image via BBC
While Japan is currently battling another surge in Covid-19 cases, the fishing town that’s located in Ishikawa prefecture on Japan’s central-west coast, has had a very low number of cases.
Though they may not have been affected by cases, the pandemic has caused a significant drop in tourists for the seaside town.
According to Yahoo Japan, Noto received 800 million yen (RM) through the national grants which were intended as an emergency economic boost to help regional areas affected by the pandemic.
The funds however, did not have to be spent directly on Covid relief.
Though Noto officials are looking at the future of tourism with the giant squid statue, there are some who have criticized the town’s administration for spending so much money on the statue, especially seeing that the pandemic in not over yet.
Speaking to the Chunichi Shimbun newspaper, one local shared that “It may be effective in attracting customers in the long run, but there may have been a way to use it generously where there is an urgent need for support due to the coronavirus disaster, such as medical staff and long-term care facilities.”
Image via Kotaku
Well… now you know where to go if you want to see a giant squid statue once the pandemic ends. Noto’s famous flying squid sounds like something we’d be happy to try out too!
What are your thoughts on the giant squid statue? Love it or hate it? Share your thoughts with us
Info via UNILAD
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