Japanese politicians to entice rich foreigners...

[gaijinpunch]

Japanese politicians are thinking of ways to increase tourism in the country and thus planned to create a new kind of entry qualification that will allow rich foreign visitors to stay for a longer time in Japan.

At the moment, foreigners can obtain an approval for a longer period, but only for business or educational purposes.

Source

[Samurai_Jerk]

WTF? I don't see how this is going to help boost tourism. Rich people on luxury vacation don't generally spend more than a couple of weeks on holiday. Besides, unless someone has a really deep interest in some kind of Japanese cultural activity or a family member living here I can't imagine they'd want to do more than a week or two in Japan.

[matsuki]

Meanwhile, in another move to increase tourist arrivals in the country, a Ministry of Justice council is recommending setting up the Trusted Travelers Program for foreign business travelers and tourists, which will allow pre-approved and low-risk passengers to use an automated kiosk instead of going through immigration, according to the local press.

Foreign residents who have re-entry permits can already use this service.

I've seen this for when leaving but never upon entry?? (at Narita) Am I blind or does it just not exist?

WTF? I don't see how this is going to help boost tourism. Rich people on luxury vacation don't generally spend more than a couple of weeks on holiday. Besides, unless someone has a really deep interest in some kind of Japanese cultural activity or a family member living here I can't imagine they'd want to do more than a week or two in Japan.

...and THIS

More than 3 months on vacation here? They obviously haven't done too much research with their target here...

[GomiGirl]

Rich Asian foreigners - they are after the Chinese new money rather than the Daddy Warbucks Rockerfellas from the US or Europe...

Have the wealthy Beijing business folks to exile their women and children from the death inducing pollution and suicide inciting traffic jams and Daddy commutes weekly to and from Beijing to luxury highrise in Shiodome..

Stop thinking that the wealthy foreigners are white or from the "west".

[IparryU]

Rich Asian foreigners - they are after the Chinese new money rather than the Daddy Warbucks Rockerfellas from the US or Europe...

Have the wealthy Beijing business folks to exile their women and children from the death inducing pollution and suicide inciting traffic jams and Daddy commutes weekly to and from Beijing to luxury highrise in Shiodome..

Stop thinking that the wealthy foreigners are white or from the "west".

Nice point GG!

[Coligny]

Rich Asian foreigners - they are after the Chinese new money rather than the Daddy Warbucks Rockerfellas from the US or Europe...

Have the wealthy Beijing business folks to exile their women and children from the death inducing pollution and suicide inciting traffic jams and Daddy commutes weekly to and from Beijing to luxury highrise in Shiodome..

Stop thinking that the wealthy foreigners are white or from the "west".

Nice point GG!

Not so sure...

There are already "nicer" gaijin tourists status allowing for up to 6 month stay without visa:

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/visa.html

In which China is not even included yet.

Check the initial wording:

At the moment, foreigners can obtain an approval for a longer period, but only for business or educational purposes.

This new visa thing don't target work related stay.
And when you have a work related visa, you can already come with your family...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Rich Asian foreigners - they are after the Chinese new money rather than the Daddy Warbucks Rockerfellas from the US or Europe...

Have the wealthy Beijing business folks to exile their women and children from the death inducing pollution and suicide inciting traffic jams and Daddy commutes weekly to and from Beijing to luxury highrise in Shiodome..

Stop thinking that the wealthy foreigners are white or from the "west".

I was thinking of rich Asians, who like Americans, generally can't take vacations longer than a week or two.

[matsuki]

Rich Asian foreigners - they are after the Chinese new money rather than the Daddy Warbucks Rockerfellas from the US or Europe...

Have the wealthy Beijing business folks to exile their women and children from the death inducing pollution and suicide inciting traffic jams and Daddy commutes weekly to and from Beijing to luxury highrise in Shiodome..

Stop thinking that the wealthy foreigners are white or from the "west".

I thought about that too but I think they already offer they type of residential visa type waiver to those with enough zeros in their bank accounts?? I could be wrong but his just sounds like an extended vacation visa, no something to bring and raise your family on?

[yanpa]

Meanwhile, in another move to increase tourist arrivals in the country, a Ministry of Justice council is recommending setting up the Trusted Travelers Program for foreign business travelers and tourists, which will allow pre-approved and low-risk passengers to use an automated kiosk instead of going through immigration, according to the local press.

Foreign residents who have re-entry permits can already use this service.

I've seen this for when leaving but never upon entry?? (at Narita) Am I blind or does it just not exist?

I just came through Narita and don't recall seeing anything of that ilk.

[Mike Oxlong]

Meanwhile, in another move to increase tourist arrivals in the country, a Ministry of Justice council is recommending setting up the Trusted Travelers Program for foreign business travelers and tourists, which will allow pre-approved and low-risk passengers to use an automated kiosk instead of going through immigration, according to the local press.

Foreign residents who have re-entry permits can already use this service.

I've seen this for when leaving but never upon entry?? (at Narita) Am I blind or does it just not exist?

I just came through Narita and don't recall seeing anything of that ilk.

Ditto. The ground staff asked my visa status, and directed me to the usual officer at a counter.

[matsuki]

Yeah, makes sense...TIJ, no automation or easy way in but they have it on the way out

[Coligny]

AuSSlander AuSS...

Things nevar change anyway...

[matsuki]

Chinese tourists indeed...

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/27/di ... tian-relic

1297421490153_ORIGINAL.jpg

"Ding Jinhao was here" was written in Mandarin on an ancient monument at a Luxor temple on the edge of the Nile River.

How long til we see that in Japan, sparking yet another political fight?

[Samurai_Jerk]

Operation of Automated Gates (User’s Guide)

[J.A.F.O]

Stop thinking that the wealthy foreigners are white or from the "west".

I agree with you, however that stereotype is around for some reason.

[gaijinpunch]

Yeah, makes sense...TIJ, no automation or easy way in but they have it on the way out

And at least one person doing the job of maintaining it, when it could easily be done by a rack.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Meanwhile in Thailand .....

Why Bangkok Is the World’s Number One Tourist Destination

Bangkok has beaten London to the number one spot as 2013’s most popular tourist destination, and it’s not just because of Thailand’s reputation for spicy food and Buddhist temples: It’s the shopping.

Thailand’s capital is expected to receive 15.98 million tourists in 2013, compared to London’s 15.96 million and Paris’s 13.92 million, according to MasterCard’s latest Global Destination Cities Index. The city’s luxury malls are legion; Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall is the world’s second-most photographed location on Instagram, trailing only Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport.

The most interesting trend in the MasterCard data is the surge of Chinese tourists, now the world’s most numerous at 83 million per year and increasingly from smaller cities as well as large ones. They spend an awful lot of money abroad—$102 billion in 2012—and a decent chunk of it goes to retailers in Bangkok. The average Chinese visitor spends $167 per day in Thailand, according to the Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance, and most stay one week, coughing up a total of $1,000 to $1,300 each.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I'll get the ping pong balls.....

[matsuki]

I'll get the ping pong balls.....

Never been to Thailand but from what I've heard, Japan will be able to one up them with the frog trick....