Japan hotels scramble for foreign workers as tourists flood country

TOKYO -- Japanese hotel operators plan to employ more foreign staff in the coming years as the industry struggles to fill the hole left by pandemic-era job cuts amid a tourism rebound that has sent demand surging.

Tokyu Resorts & Stays plans to expand its foreign-born workforce from around 120 to 580 by 2033, making up roughly 30% of its payroll compared with 6% now. As the company keeps opening new resorts and hotels, it does not expect to be able to meet its hiring needs with fresh Japanese graduates alone.