national

Gov't aims for 18 million tourists a year by 2016

18 Comments

The Transportation Ministry's council on tourism transport policy released a 5-year policy draft on Thursday in which it set the goal of attracting 18 million tourists a year to Japan by 2016.

The policy aims to restore faith in Japan as a tourism destination in light of last year's disaster and ongoing nuclear crisis in Fukushima. The policy also sets out a goal to increase the number of annual visitors to 25 million by 2020, Sankei Shimbun reported.

According to the council, 2010 saw the most visitors in a single year ever, with 8.61 million tourists entering the country, but that number dropped significantly to 6.2 million in 2011.

The plan calls for new tourism routes and attractions, and better and more travel information for foreign visitors, among other things.

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18 Comments
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What have these guys smoked? 8.6 million was the best they ever got. They think they are going to double it after Fukushima? Come on...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Here we go again

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Prices? High yen? Who can afford it? Well, a few, but no one I know anymore.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Rename Japan 'Fantasy Island' because apparently that's where the Transportation Ministry are living. I'd love for 18 million a year to visit these fine shores. It's just not going to happen though despite the best efforts of some council drones.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

among other things

Are they going to capitalize on Japan's mystique to bring the tourists in?

Of course it's important to aim high and never undersell yourself, but I'm curious about how they envisage achieving this. I think the key word is 'draft'.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pssh! Narcissistic Government morons listen carefully. Unlike what you delude yourself into believing, foreigners do not think Japan is the best place in the world to visit. They are not all waiting with their passports at the ready waiting for your permission to come here any enjoy your mystique propaganda... Yes Japan is a nice place to visit. Fortunately though, thanks to the news on YouTube most foreigners have seen your endless incompetence, corruption and lies since 3/11. Add to this the expensive Yen and it all starts to add up (well for us it does)...

So I hate to burst your bubble but 18 million tourists a year by 2016 is not going to happen...

It does not matter how many press releases you issue or the number of clenched fist gambatte poses you and your staff make. I suggest you all get your heads out of your ass and face reality...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Keep on smoking your underwear if you think Japan is gonna get this many tourists, with earthquakes?? Radiation?? Aint gonna happen!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This is a ridiculous pipe dream. Who in their right mind will want to visit Japan and eat the local food? The disaster at Fukushima Daiichi is only getting worse by the day with contamination spreading further and deeper (with help from the Japanese government's brilliant decision making). By 2016 Japan will be lucky if anyone is visiting.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan will join Ukraine and Belarus as the tourist meccas of the world. The only difference is that authorities in Ukraine and Belarus did not intentionally spread radioactive substances around their nations. Japan is doing just that. What a prime vacation spot.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Wow 18M is too much aggressive number. It won't be possible until unless yen@200 and too much initiations from the Govt and easing the VISA norms.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Wow 18M is too much aggressive number. It won't be possible until unless yen@200 and too much initiations from the Govt and easing the VISA norms.

Why should visa norms be eased? The VISA for foreign tourists are exactly the same as everywhere in the world. No normal tourist wants to stay longer than 3 months in the same country.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good luck with that. If Japan gets back to 10.0 million they should consider themselves lucky. Remember, part of that "tourist" number is foreigners coming to Japan on business, and that number is declining along with Japan's economy. Those folks are going to China, Singapore, etc. now.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You guys are negative on EVERYSINGLE article. China has 1.3 billion people, the visas have been relaxed..and the most recent poll by the chinese government during the lunar new year showed that chinese voted Japan as their preferred destination. 18 million is perfectly achievable, especially if the koreans finally come back after the fukushima scare in a few years. Japan has extremely high potential, just last year british magazines and newspapers polled Japan and Tokyo as the #1 for tourist satisfaction. Stop being so damn negative all the time.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Not only that, I forgot to mention that Japan was ranked as the #1 "Dream destination" by Asians a poll done by mastercard/Visa..look it up yourself. This was last year mind you.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

We'll be back - next year. That'll be visit no. 5 for me, an Australian. Our dollar is strong and that helps tourists if not traders. Yes, there is incompetence and corruption but our interactions with the common people have been wonderful. Radiation issues have been grossly overstated for other than a limited district. People in Hokkaido, Kansai or Shikoku are vastly out of the danger zone. Expensive? Yes, if you choose to follow that path. We can find double accommodation for 8000 yen a day and cafe food that is barely different from home prices, with good serves and high quality

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What's there to see here other than Kyoto? Most cityscapes here are identical to each other. And usually unattractive. Kumamoto looks far too similar to Mito to have its own draw - and on and on. Tokyo has its contemporary areas but westerners prefer the more traditional faces of Japan. And I think many Japanese feel sweet-sour about an increase in Chinese tourists, not famed for their discrete low key conduct and exemplary manners. Moreover though is the unending nuclear contamination, the absurdly high yen and the poor value in travel expenses. I also detect a general indifference towards foreigners here these days. People are nominally polite but that's it.

For the money, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia , the Philippines (Asia's most undiscovered jewel), Malaysia and Taiwan deliver far far more all around. And there's no cesium in the food.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

^ Ridiculous post, considering some of the countries you listed have a higher background radiation in any day than in Tokyo. Especially saying Taiwan delivers more..when their city scapes are japanese..and even older and dirtier than the USA. Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines are the same kind of destination as going to Mexico or another poor country..it is not comparable to more expensive tourism like Europe or japan.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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