A coastal town in Japan is facing criticism after it spent emergency funds intended for coronavirus measures on a giant statue of a squid to promote the local tourism industry. Noto, located in Ishikawa prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, spent ¥25m (£164,000) on the 13-metre-long marine creature, according to the Chunichi Shimbun. The local newspaper quoted officials as saying that the flying squid was part of a tourism drive to help the area’s.
A seaside town in Japan has raised eyebrows after it used funding from an emergency Covid-19 relief grant to build a giant statue of a squid.
Flying squid are a delicacy in the fishing town of Noto, however, tourism has dropped considerably due to the pandemic.
Photo: Tonarinopoti / YouTube
The 13 metre-long sea creature lies in the port of Noto, where flying squid is the town s delicacy.
It reportedly used 25 million yen (NZ$320,300) of the emergency funding to build the statue.
Noto officials have told local media it is part of a long term plan to lure tourists back after the pandemic.
BBC News
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image copyrightThe Tonarinopoti YouTube Channel
image captionFlying squid are a delicacy in the fishing town of Noto, however tourism has dropped considerably due to the pandemic
A seaside town in Japan has raised eyebrows after it used funding from an emergency Covid-19 relief grant to build a giant statue of a squid.
The 13m-long (43ft) sea creature lies in the port of Noto, where flying squid is the town s delicacy.
It reportedly used 25m yen ($228,500; £164,700) of the emergency funding to build the statue.
Noto officials have told local media it is part of a long term plan to lure tourists back after the pandemic.
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