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Japan is set to enhance its tourism experience by implementing a new preclearance system for foreign visitors, aimed at expediting immigration procedures. Starting next January, tourists from Taiwan will be the first to benefit, allowing them to complete most immigration checks before departure, according to NHK reports.
What does the new preclearance system translate to?
The move comes as Japan experiences a record surge in tourism. The Japan National Tourism Organization reported that 17.8 million people visited in the first half of the year, with more than 3 million travelers in each of the last four months.
The depreciation of the yen has made Japan a more affordable destination, turning it into a hotspot for tourists seeking both cultural experiences and shopping opportunities. At a recent tourism promotion meeting, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida highlighted the potential for ¥8 trillion ($51 billion) in spending by foreign visitors in 2024.
Prime Minister Kishida emphasized the need to balance increasing tourist numbers with measures to prevent overtourism, particularly in local regions. He called for the use of technology to manage congestion at airports, travel networks, and popular destinations. Additionally, the government aims to enhance the appeal of Japan’s national parks and promote sports tourism, with a goal of reaching 60 million visitors annually by 2030.
Reflecting the growing demand for inbound travel, ANA Holdings Inc. announced the launch of three new European routes from Haneda Airport this winter. Flights to Milan will commence in December, Stockholm in January, and Istanbul in February. Shinichi Inoue, President of All Nippon Airways, stated that the airline will continue to expand its network. ANA has also started daily flights to Paris and Munich, with plans to resume the Haneda-Vienna route in August, in anticipation of the Paris Olympics.
Japan’s strategic measures to streamline immigration and promote tourism aim to sustain and further boost its burgeoning tourist industry.
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