Japan broadens visa free scheme

The Japanese government is considering an initiative to grant visa exemption for citizens from Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, in an effort to turn Japan into an attractive tourist destination for Asian travellers.
According to Japan’s Kyodo News report, the plan, which is due out this June, is part of Japan’s effort to attract 20 million foreign tourists annually.
The move follows a similar policy for visitors from Thailand and Malaysia introduced, 1 July 2013, that has been highly successful.
Thai and Malaysian visitors to Japan increased 61% to 630,000 in the second half of 2013 after the new policy was implemented. It helped Japan’s overall number of foreign tourists to top 10 million in a year for the first time.
During the recent MATTA travel fair in Kuala Lumpur, the show was packed with tour options to Japan, while an entire section of one hall featured Japan’s attractions, sponsored by the Japan National Tourism Organisation and selected private sector partners.
Travellers from Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, last year, reached 80,000, 140,000 and 110,000 respectively. China remains the largest market.
Overstays from Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam were relatively low at between 0.09% and 0.34% of all arrivals.
The government led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to develop tourism to spearhead economic growth by attracting approximately 20 million foreign visitors annually by 2020 when Japan hosts the Summer Olympics Games.
Japan is granting visa exemption for visitors from 66 countries and territories, worldwide. Of that, four ASEAN countries gained exemptions– Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Sourced: ttrweekly