Japan Bound

Web-based CIQ for Japan ‘Visit Japan Web’ integrates health app ‘MySOS’ to make faster immigration possible

Web-based CIQ for Japan ‘Visit Japan Web’ integrates health app ‘MySOS’ to make faster immigration possible

Digital Agency of Japan will integrate ‘My SOS,’ a health certificate app, into ‘Visit Japan Web’ on November 1 2022 to make faster immigration possible.
International arrivals in Japan exceeded 200,000 in September 2022 for the first time in the pandemic

International arrivals in Japan exceeded 200,000 in September 2022 for the first time in the pandemic

The number of international arrivals in Japan in September 2022 was 206,500, which were the first over 200,000 a month in the pandemic. Compared to August 2019 (2,272,883 arrivals), the result remained a 90.9% decrease.
Universal Studios Japan introduces Alipay+ in the park and seeks a chance to collaborate with Fliggy

Universal Studios Japan introduces Alipay+ in the park and seeks a chance to collaborate with Fliggy

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and Ant Group signed a corporate marketing partnership contract to introduce Alipay+ payment service in the park, expecting that the partnership will raise payment conveniences for visitors to Japan from Asia.
Searches for travel in Japan on OTA have been growing since lifting of the remaining inbound travel restrictions was announced

Searches for travel in Japan on OTA have been growing since lifting of the remaining inbound travel restrictions was announced

Searches for travel in Japan on major OTAs have been growing since the Japanese government announced the remaining travel restrictions on foreigners would be lifted on October 11 2022.
International arrivals in August 2022 were still 170,000 only, despite more than 100,000 for five consecutive months

International arrivals in August 2022 were still 170,000 only, despite more than 100,000 for five consecutive months

the number of international arrivals in Japan in August 2022 was 169,800 only. The partial reopen of the inbound travel market since June 2022 did not work well, though arrivals were more than 100,000 for five consecutive months.
Japan will fully open the border on October 11 2022 by lifting visa requirement for foreigners and the limited entry cap a day

Japan will fully open the border on October 11 2022 by lifting visa requirement for foreigners and the limited entry cap a day

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that Japan will fully open the border on October 11 2022 by lifting visa requirement for foreigners and the limited entry cap a day.
Japan National Tourism Organization develops AR experiences of the famous summer festival in Japan for Singapore

Japan National Tourism Organization develops AR experiences of the famous summer festival in Japan for Singapore

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has launched a digital promotion using the AR technology in Singapore, in which a user can enjoy virtual experience of the famous summer festival ‘Nebuta’ in Aomori Prefecture on a smartphone.
Japan and Taiwan are working together for 7.5 million two-way travelers a year

Japan and Taiwan are working together for 7.5 million two-way travelers a year

The tourism promotion committee for Taiwan in Japan met the counterpart in Taiwan in Taoyuan City, Taiwan for 2022 Japan-Taiwan Tourism Summit to share a goal to achieve 7.5 million two-way travelers a year.
Japan Tourism Agency revises a guideline to accept a foreign tourist tour without a tour conductor

Japan Tourism Agency revises a guideline to accept a foreign tourist tour without a tour conductor

Japan Tourism Agency has revised "Guidelines for Accepting Foreign Tourists." A travel agency or a travel service arrangement agency is responsible for the tour. They have to make arrangements for round-trip air tickets and all accommodations throughout traveling in Japan before entering Japan.
A foreign tourist tour to Japan no longer needs a tour conductor on September 7

A foreign tourist tour to Japan no longer needs a tour conductor on September 7

Japan will raise a cap of the number of entries into Japan from 20,000 a day to 50,000 a day and at the same time permits a foreign tourist tour without a tour conductor on September 7.
Why does Agoda invest a large scale of budget into the Japan market?A leader in Japan talks about its strategies

Why does Agoda invest a large scale of budget into the Japan market?A leader in Japan talks about its strategies

Singapore-based OTA Agoda has been raising its presence in the Japan market. A leader of the OTA in Japan talked about its unique strategies both for domestic travel and for inbound travel.
A Japan National Tourism Organization leader talks about the promotional strategies for rebound of the inbound travel market

A Japan National Tourism Organization leader talks about the promotional strategies for rebound of the inbound travel market

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Executive Senior Vice President Kyoji Kuramotchi talked about the next steps for rebound of the inbound travel market, expecting FIT will be opened soon. How does JNTO develop its strategies to achieve the national goals.
Three doses vaccination travelers will no longer need PCR negative certificate for entry into Japan on September 7

Three doses vaccination travelers will no longer need PCR negative certificate for entry into Japan on September 7

Japan will lift requirement of negative certificates on PCR test within 72 hours before leaving a destination on September 7, but maintain a cap of 20,000 entries a day for a while.
An international visitor in Japan spent 260,000 JPY on average in Q1 of FY2022, higher than usual

An international visitor in Japan spent 260,000 JPY on average in Q1 of FY2022, higher than usual

spending in Japan by international visitors totaled 104.7 billion JPY for the first quarter of FY2022 (April to June 2022), and spending a visitor was estimated at 257,206 JPY, higher than usual.
Kansai Airport forecasts 37 million passengers in 2025 of the EXPO year, 1.3 times more than 2018

Kansai Airport forecasts 37 million passengers in 2025 of the EXPO year, 1.3 times more than 2018

Passenger demand in 2025 is forecasted to grow by 1.3 times to 37.3 million compared to 2018, boosted by Osaka Kansai EXPO and an increase in visitors from emerging Asian countries.
Japan National Tourism Organization is preparing for open of individual travel, including online advertising campaigns with airlines

Japan National Tourism Organization is preparing for open of individual travel, including online advertising campaigns with airlines

As soon as the FIT market is reopened, JNTO will develop a large scale of advertising campaigns to let consumers know that Japan is ready for every international tourist, as many potential international travelers seem to wait and see until FIT is allowed.
Only 12,000 foreigners are registered as new entry applicants to Japan as of July 28 2022

Only 12,000 foreigners are registered as new entry applicants to Japan as of July 28 2022

The number of applicants to Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System(ERFS), which is a registration system for new foreigner entries into Japan, totaled 12,291 only as of July 28 2022.
International arrivals in June 2022 were 120,000 only, despite partial reopen of the inbound travel market

International arrivals in June 2022 were 120,000 only, despite partial reopen of the inbound travel market

The number of international arrivals in Japan in June 2022 was 120,400 only, though the inbound travel market has partially reopened with the entry cap of 20,000 a day since June 1 2022.
Fliggy, Alibaba’s OTA, ties up with Japanese OTA ‘AirTrip’ to book accommodations in Japan for Chinese travelers

Fliggy, Alibaba’s OTA, ties up with Japanese OTA ‘AirTrip’ to book accommodations in Japan for Chinese travelers

Fliggy, a travel service platform of Alibaba Group, has tied up with Japanese OTA ‘AirTrip.' More than 20,000 lists on AirTrip will be provided to more than 300 million Fliggy members in China.
Japan has to jump various hurdles to receive international tourists, though the market is supposed to open

Japan has to jump various hurdles to receive international tourists, though the market is supposed to open

AndBeyondTokyo, a Tokyo-based tour operator, run helter-skelter to receive its first international customers after the partial reopening of leisure-purpose travelers from San Francisco. Too many hurdles are still on the road to Japan. What are CEO Kuroiwa worried about?