It is essential to create an environment capable of smoothly accepting the increasing number of visitors to Japan.
In 2018, the number of foreign travelers visiting Japan topped 30 million for the first time. This is a threefold increase from five years ago.
Steps taken to support this surge, such as the government relaxing visa requirements for visitors from Asian nations and the expansion of flight routes by various airlines, have proven very successful.
The growing number of foreign tourists to Japan will deepen international understanding of the nation. These travelers also bolster the nation's economy by shopping and staying in accommodations. The steady implementation of steps designed to transform Japan into a "tourism-oriented country" should be welcomed.
The government has set a target of raising the number of foreign visitors to 40 million in 2020. It is important to make this plan a reality because it is a pillar of the government's growth strategy. However, many obstacles to achieving this target remain.
Some negative effects of accepting so many foreign visitors have started to emerge. Seats on international flights quickly fill up, and Japanese traveling abroad often struggle to secure spots on the flights they want. Boosting the passenger capacity of airlines flying to and from Japan is a pressing issue.
Measures to increase the number of arrival and departure slots at the nation's international airports and resolve a pilot shortage must be steadily put in place.
Hotels and other accommodations are constantly full, especially in major cities and popular tourist areas. More accommodations should be made available after giving thorough consideration to the demand in each region.
Use new tax effectively
The phenomenon of "tourism pollution," in which rapid growth in tourist numbers damages the environment and disturbs residents' daily lives, also cannot be ignored.
In places such as Kyoto and Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, overcrowded buses and traffic congestion are creating problems in the everyday lives of local residents. Differences in etiquette and lifestyle habits are causing friction in some areas. Japanese tourists also might visit less frequently than before.
This tourism pollution stems from foreign travelers visiting areas concentrated along the so-called golden route linking Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Appealing sightseeing resources in provincial areas must be unveiled and widely publicized among foreign travelers to encourage them to visit a more diverse range of destinations.
Responding better to successive disasters also will be crucial. After a powerful earthquake hit Hokkaido and Typhoon No. 21 battered Japan in 2018, a striking number of foreign visitors did not know where to seek shelter and became stranded.
Local governments must quickly compile policies that help ease the anxieties of foreign visitors, such as by completing arrangements for conveying evacuation information in multiple languages.
On Jan. 7, the government will introduce an international tourist tax. The tax of 1,000 yen will be collected from every traveler when they depart from Japan. Japanese travelers will also have to pay.
The draft budget for fiscal 2019 estimated this tax will bring in revenue of 50 billion yen. These funds will be used to improve the convenience of tourism-related services in Japan, such as by speeding up airport procedures and making information on public transportation available in multiple languages. It also will be used for efforts that boost the added value of cultural properties and national parks.
When this tax is introduced, it is essential for the money it raises to be used effectively.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 30, 2018)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
