Japan travel scheme rollout hits snag as firms spend quota prematurely

Oh, I'm sure there is nothing to worry about.

Doubtless the way in which the bottomless pit of taxpayer money was disbursed will be clearly and transparently accounted for, just like it was with the Olympics, and Abe's funeral, and Ishihara's failed Tokyo 2016 bid and Shin Ginko Tokyo project...

Just such a pity there's never any left over for daycare, or an increase in pensions.

Still, I'm sure it's all strictly above board.

Billions of yen for travel to far away villages and towns…billions

Cleaned the spare room, picked some flowers, stocked up on beer. Just waiting for bookings.

No useful information of how to use the system.

That's not what this article is about! There are plenty of Japanese sites that explain it.

What a waste of tax payer money. This is a disgrace.

National Travel Debacle

Always trying to one-up previous disasters, and always succeeding. Imagine if they used a little of this money for social welfare services, which are tanking so badly taxes are going to have to be increased... which I guess will go to travel agencies to spend prematurely.

The scheme is being implemented through use of state funds, including 560 billion yen left over from its Go To Travel predecessor, and 330 billion yen from similar existing programs operating at the prefectural level.

"State funds" the public's tax money being used to prop up property holders.

That's it.

Kishidas government just cant do anything correctly

There’s one thing they consistently do correctly.

screw things up

"If sales are strong, the number of businesses that suspend participation in the scheme could increase further."

If sales are strong, there is no need for the scheme.

just another half measured "campaign" as everything what recent gov does...how abt to give say 50000jpy to each of us to decide whether want to keep money,use for travel or anything else?do need any "campaign" like this all...?any ideas why they cant do at least something fast,clear and easy way?

This scheme is typical of a government initiative, where the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing.

And it's discriminatory, as it excludes the unjabbed. This is an even more ridiculous situation now that it's come to light that Pfizer didn't even know whether their product prevented the spread (which, of course, it didn't), while happily sitting back and letting politicians and medical authorities claim that it did. This led to policies based on misinformation at best, and disinformation as the more likely case. As such, there are no logical or moral grounds for excluding the unjabbed because we are no more likely to spread the virus than the jabbed.

I don't understand how firms are spending the money. Isn't the money given as a discount for consumers to use? Don't travelers have to book and stay in order for the money to be spent?

Wow. How to use it, a practical guide for tourists?　　I have booked my travel back to Japan for Nov 17-Dec 16. I hope that I can find some deals on places to stay that aren't for high-rise hotels in the big cities. I am reading about closed smaller places off the main tourist paths, just the type of places I like to stay when I am not wild camping by my favorite notenburo.

That's not what this article is about! There are plenty of Japanese sites that explain it.

Yubaru, that is great. Which sites do you suggest we read?

Seems it's a success

We are booked for a Nagano onsen in November, and I learned very quickly during the booking process that this scheme has serious problems, as in price gouging of tourists.

When I booked today, for a mid-week trip, 90% of the accommodation was already sold out, and rates at the small number of remaining places were jacked up. The sudden surge in demand created by this dumb program has sent prices through the roof. Simple supply and demand.

We are getting the discount, but on a highly inflated rate. We are actually paying more than we would without this program. And that, folks, is how government-sponsored corruption works.

Here we are in the middle of a serious world-wide downturn and the government here keeps on supplying fresh bread and keeps the circuses open. Got to maintain the illusion that the good times of the late 1980s will somehow return and Japan will be great again.

Not sure they needed to do this. Looks like folk were up for a trip anyway. They could have spent the money on offshore turbines. Like the UK, Japan, as an island, can all but surround itself with these and generate as much power as possible from them.

Why not knock it off with this "campaign" and just issue a cash handout to everyone so they can decide what they want to do with the money? Too logical? For Japan, yes.

Why not knock it off with this "campaign" and just issue a cash handout to everyone so they can decide what they want to do with the money? Too logical? For Japan, yes.

This is a discriminatory program set up to get the people who have extra cash to spend it. It's not to help the people fighting to survive.

I’ve a trip booked for next week at just over 3000 yen a night.

No help needed at all…

Looky here, when it comes to the loters gettin loot to their buddies, wives, families, moon donations,

no talk about "Eyeings", no "considerings", no "debatings"

signed sealed cashed and delivered.

The looting is being implemented through use of state funds or your taxes,

including

560 billion yen "thanks for the taxes" left over from Go To Travel and

330 billion yen from similar "thanks for those taxes too" existing programs operating at the prefectural level.

Logic is solid. Loot the money first, from everyone. Call it "campaigns" and spin off some on PR etc. Then everyone can decide to spend a little extra to buy their tax back as coupon. Perfect sense. For a looter.

Why not knock it off with this "campaign" and just issue a cash handout to everyone so they can decide what they want to do with the money? Too logical? For Japan, yes.

They are sly, very sly, doling out what they have taken-people are suckered every time.

Tax cuts were proposed in the UK but opposed by those pulling the strings and the PM had to backtrack and Kwasi was booted -can’t give to the peasants and that is the way it has always been…