Local residents shared their stories with WTTC delegates

Delegates from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit have visited the Tōhoku region of Japan to witness first hand the clean up efforts following a devastating earthquake in 2011.

As many as 500 industry leaders are in regional capital Sendai as part of the annual event, with Japanese officials keen to show off the remarkable recovery efforts.

Some 16,000 people were killed as a tsunami struck land following the earthquake on March 11th 2011.

The tsunami caused a number of nuclear accidents, primarily the ongoing level seven meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Evacuation zones affecting hundreds of thousands of residents are still in place following the incident.

However, recovery efforts along the coast are picking up pace.

Vast piles of wreckage are being sorted and either sent for incineration, recycling or reuse, while Sendai itself has been quick to remind the world it is open for business.

Hundreds of WTTC delegates visited the scene to assess recovery efforts

Tonnes of rubbish still litters the coast