Over 70% of accommodation hit by labor shortages amid tourism boom in Japan

TOKYO - More than 70 percent of accommodation facilities in Japan are facing labor shortages amid a boom in tourism, a critical driver of the economy, a government report said Friday, underlining the need for more investment in automation and the offering of better benefits to attract workers.

The annual white paper on tourism pointed to the possibility of a "vicious cycle" in the sector, with increased workloads leading more people to leave their jobs.