Photo/Illutration Boat racers compete in a night race at Boat Race Suminoe in Osaka. (Provided by the city of Minoh)

OSAKA--A unique new initiative to get foreign visitors interested in gambling on speedboat races is speeding along, hoping to give the sport a boost and get tourists to spend more money at night.

While boat racing, also known as “kyotei,” is popular in Japan, it remains little known outside the country.

The initiative intends to draw inbound visitors to the races at night, which would help address the country’s lack of nighttime tourist spots while also increasing attendance at struggling boat racing venues--a “win-win” situation.

In kyotei, six boats race three laps around a 600-meter course. Like horse races, spectators can wager on the winners and order of finish.

Traditionally, boat racing has been viewed primarily as a small-time, local entertainment, attracting a customer base of mostly older men.

Boat Race Suminoe, a kyotei venue here, will invite some 20 foreigners from various countries and generations who are unfamiliar with boat racing to attend the races on June 24.

Retired racers will introduce the event to guests, explain the races and provide tips on how to bet. Participants will then have the opportunity to place bets and enjoy the races from seats close to the course.

The event will also feature visits to the venue’s boat pits and food shops.

The feedback from the participants will be used to develop programs tailored to the preferences of foreign visitors.

If kyotei shows promise as a tourist attraction, it will be integrated into inbound group tours and promoted to potential visitors to Japan.

The test event will be organized by the Nankai Electric Railway group, the venue’s operator, JTB Corp., Kansai Innovation Center and the Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau.

They aim to generate revenue from inbound tourists at kyotei races by 2025, when the Osaka World Expo will be held.

While tourist destinations across Japan are bustling with the return of foreign visitors, there has been a long-standing issue with the lack of places where tourists can spend money after dark.

There are 24 boat racing venues nationwide, and seven of them, including Boat Race Suminoe, operate at night.

Boat Race Suminoe boasts one of the highest boat race ticket sales in the country, including online sales. However, attendance has been stagnant.

By attracting foreigners to evening boat races, the organizers hope to kill two birds with one stone.

Since a portion of the revenue goes to local governments, it is also expected to contribute to the local economy.

The organizers also aim to attract more visitors to the higher-priced premium seats where people tend to bet more money.

A survey conducted of about 300 non-Japanese from Japan and abroad showed that 8 percent of respondents residing in Japan and none of those from overseas have attended a boat race.

However, 35 percent of respondents from overseas and 55 percent of those from Japan expressed interest in attending one, suggesting that there is great potential for growth.

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