Government Wants 20 Million Foreign Tourists In 2020

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Welcome to Japan....
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Gaijin don't surf....
[YThq]9nZewyOMo88[/YThq]

[FG Lurker]

Japanese woman becomes 4 millionth visitor to Taiwan this year
Taiwan News, December 5, 2009

The number of tourists to Taiwan hit a record high Saturday, as the country welcomed its 4 millionth visitor, a woman from Japan, according to the Tourism Bureau.

The 62-year-old Suzuyo Goto arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Saturday along with two friends for a six-day sightseeing trip.

[...]

As part of an incentive program to encourage more tourists to visit Taiwan, the Tourism Bureau awarded Goto a debit card valued at NT$400,000 (US$12, 419) to be spent exclusively in Taiwan.

The 1 millionth, 2 millionth and 3 millionth visitors also received similar debit cards, but with lower values, when they arrived earlier this year.

[...]

Despite the economic downturn, the number of tourists to Taiwan has grown this year, according to the Tourism Bureau. "The number of tourists to Taiwan has significantly outnumbered last year's (3.85 million) . The original target was 4.1 million visitors (this year) and now we estimate that it could be more than 4.2 million," Hsieh said.

The Tourism Bureau has set a target of attracting 4.5 million tourists for 2010, he added.

(Full Story)

Looks like the recession isn't hurting Taiwan's visitor numbers... Maybe they don't treat their visitors like criminals upon arrival?

[Doctor Stop]

One step forward would be to stop killing the tourists that are already here and hope that they come back for a repeat visit:

Suspected Chinese tourist fatally hit by car outside Imperial Palace

A man was killed after being hit by a car while crossing the street at an intersection outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Sunday afternoon.

Police believe the deceased to be a 46-year-old tourist from Shanghai, China, and are now attempting to confirm his identity. Two other men on the [color="Red"]sidewalk[/color] at the time were also injured. One, a 69-year-old man from Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, suffered a fractured skull and lost consciousness. The second man -- a 34-year-old from Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward -- sustained light injuries to his foot.

According to police, 24-year-old Nobuhiro Takahashi was arrested at the scene of the accident on suspicion of causing injury through negligence while driving.

"I slowed down for a red light, but it turned green and when I sped up again a pedestrian stepped out," Takahashi has told police.

So when the signal turns green, it's now alright to drive on the sidewalk?

[Mulboyne]

The down trend was broken in November which saw a 2.1% rise in overseas visitors compared with a year ago.

[Mulboyne]

Mainichi: Sagging tourism leads minister to appoint new Japan Tourism Agency commissioner
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara has decided to dismiss Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Yoshiaki Hompo after a recent decline in the number of foreign visitors. Maehara will appoint Hiroshi Mizohata, 49, a former president of J.League Oita Trinita football club, as a new head of the agency on Friday. Hompo was appointed as the first commissioner of the national tourism bureau upon its establishment in October 2008. His experience as a former Japan Post board member and the involvement in its privatization were expected to help revitalize the nation's tourism industry. However, the number of foreign travellers to Japan has drastically decreased due in part to the recession. Mizohata, a former home affairs bureaucrat, became president of Oita Trinita in 2004, and transformed the small club into one of the Japan's top league teams. He retired on Dec. 12 this year. As Maehara positions the tourism as a pillar of Japan's growth strategy, he is apparently hoping that Mizohata's management skill will help increase tourist numbers.

[Ganma]

Wow. They just don't get it do they. Perhaps they should have sacked the Police Commisioner or head of immigration for their anti-foreigner policies instead. How do they expect to attract more tourtists to a country that oozes Xenophobia? Wake up Japan!

[BO-SENSEI]

Wow. They just don't get it do they.

Oh, come on, you can hardly blame the racist and discriminatory behavior of the Japanese police or immigration workers for the problems with the decrease of tourists, permanent residents, yes, but not tourists. You could certainly blame the economy, the ridiculous value of the yen, and the fact that some people don't like to travel to a country that speaks a different language than yours. Let's face it, this was not a good time to be taking a trip anywhere, the economy and H1N1 are reasons enough.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I agree with BO-Sensei. Tourism anywhere feels the pinch early after economies start to sour.
I'd argue that few people on earth are as hospitable to foreign tourists as most Japanese, even though the tourism infrastructure here is deplorable (as are most Japanese once they realize you're hanging around longer than most tourists).

[Mulboyne]

There was always a good chance that Hompo would go. "Falling tourism" was the pretext but no-one seriously holds him directly accountable for that. He was a recent LDP appointee and the new government wants their own man. You'll notice that the announcement came days after the the release of data showing the first monthly rise in visitor numbers in 16 months.

[Ganma]

You could certainly blame the economy, the ridiculous value of the yen, and the fact that some people don't like to travel to a country that speaks a different language than yours.

I don't buy this argument (about language). Look at the statistics. Even China is up at no. 4 for international tourist arrivals. Japan must be doing something wrong. The high yen and the economy is probably a major factor, that is true, but surely not the only factor.

[mr. sparkle]

Too little bang for the buck. The lack of affordable hotels. Very expensive and lack of cheap alternatives. Practically a nightmare to get around without some basic Japanese.

Also, poor marketing. Here in America, I just don't see any advertising for "Yokoso". Not often anyway. I see the ads for Kazakhstan much more often so what does that tell you?

[Mulboyne]

The final numbers are in for December and the total tally for 2009 reveals an 18.7% decline in foreign visitors compared with 2008. That's the second largest decline since 1964.

[Taro Toporific]

[Catoneinutica]

[Mulboyne]

[Mulboyne]

The Koreans are back. Visitor numbers in January were up 10.3% compared with last year for a total of 640,500. The 232,000 Koreans represented a rise of 78.7%. Chinese visitors were down 16.4% to 92,200 but that's mainly because the Lunar New Year fell in January last year so the comparison in February will be positive. That makes three months of year-on-year increases but the totals are still only getting back to levels seen in 2006/7 and remain well short of official government targets.

[Mulboyne]

We are now getting back to where we stood before on tourist numbers. May was up 48.6% to 722,000 which stands just behind 2008's total of 736,122, the current record for the month.

This puts Japan back on the right trajectory but still well below the sort of numbers to meet those very aggressive short term targets.

[alicia454]

The Japanese government should increase immigration if they really want more tourism.

I am personally responsible for more than a dozen tourist visits from Canada, as my friends and family came over and took advantage of my tour-guide services and free accommodation in my guest/living-room at Chateau-Alicia.

As a train buff, lately I have been encouraging visitors to come during one of the three Seishun Juhachi Kippu seasons (01 Mar-10 Apr, 20 Jul-20 Sep, & 10 Dec-20 Jan), if they want me to show them anything outside Tokyo:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html

Note that unlike the regular JR pass that is only available to Japanese visitors with a 90 day tourist visa, the Seishun Juhachi Kippu is available to all including long term residents and citizens.

I am totally hooked on the Seishun Juhachi Kippu passes as an affordable alternative to the $$$ Shinkansen. And I have taken myself and others on local JR trains as far north as Matsushima (just past Sendai), and as far south as Mt Aso & Nagasaki in Kyushu.

[FG Lurker]

The Japanese government should increase immigration if they really want more tourism.

I am personally responsible for more than a dozen tourist visits from Canada, as my friends and family came over and took advantage of my tour-guide services and free accommodation in my guest/living-room at Chateau-Alicia.

[...]

I am totally hooked on the Seishun Juhachi Kippu passes as an affordable alternative to the $$$ Shinkansen.

Japan isn't interested in tourism for the sake of having lots of brokeass gaijin roaming the country. The idea is to have people arrive, spend lots of money, then fuck off home again.

[alicia454]

Japan isn't interested in tourism for the sake of having lots of brokeass gaijin roaming the country. The idea is to have people arrive, spend lots of money, then fuck off home again.

I don't know about that! You have to look at the big picture.

At the end of the day, I've noticed that those brokeass gaijin visitors crashing at my place and roaming the country cheaply for 3 weeks or so end up spending more in Japan than a traditional visitor that comes over for a single week in a guided tour.

These brokeass gaijin roaming the country still have to pay for accommodation & restaurants (when far from Tokyo), tourist admissions, souvenirs, electronics, etc.

And when tourists stay longer with a resident, many of them are able to absorb more of the culture and are more willing to visit Japan again, then tourists that stay for short visits and are locked away in a "tourist bubble" that consist of guided tours and stays in western hotel chains.

[Mike Oxlong]

All fair and well, but the powers that be want tourists that mimic the sterotypical J-tourist - on a very short/limited vacation, and willing to spend top dollar over that brief period to "have a good time".

[FG Lurker]

I don't know about that! You have to look at the big picture.

There is a reason why the government is focusing heavily on Chinese tourism. The Chinese arrive, spend 116,000yen per person on average, and then depart a few days later. Most don't seem to be interested in traveling, just spending. Perfect for what Japan wants. Taiwanese do much the same but spend less, about 70,000 on average. These are just the shopping sprees and don't include whatever they pay for hotels and food while they are here. (I don't know the average stay but I am guessing it is a typical 3 day package tour.)

[Christoff]

"have a good time".

no more dead hookers, damn it!

[Yokohammer]

There is a reason why the government is focusing heavily on Chinese tourism. The Chinese arrive, spend 116,000yen per person on average, and then depart a few days later. Most don't seem to be interested in traveling, just spending. Perfect for what Japan wants. Taiwanese do much the same but spend less, about 70,000 on average. These are just the shopping sprees and don't include whatever they pay for hotels and food while they are here. (I don't know the average stay but I am guessing it is a typical 3 day package tour.)

Yup. I'm surprised they haven't just set up a giant Costco-style department store at Narita so asian "tourists" could simply spend their money at the airport and then fuck off without even going through immigration.

OK ... just kidding ... obviously they need tourists to filter into the local economies and spread the wealth around, but I think the basic idea proposed by FGL is spot on.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Yup. I'm surprised they haven't just set up a giant Costco-style department store at Narita so asian "tourists" could simply spend their money at the airport and then fuck off without even going through immigration.

OK ... just kidding ... obviously they need tourists to filter into the local economies and spread the wealth around, but I think the basic idea proposed by FGL is spot on.

Couldn't agree more. I get the feeling that this cuntry is becoming increasingly insular the more it declines. If they were serious about tourism, they'd boost the tourism infrastructure. Like everything about Japanese business, though, they just want everything for themselves and give back as little as possible.

[FG Lurker]

Yup. I'm surprised they haven't just set up a giant Costco-style department store at Narita so asian "tourists" could simply spend their money at the airport and then fuck off without even going through immigration.

Soon the Chinese won't even need to fly as far as Narita for their electronics fix. Yamada Denki is expanding into China and LAOX is ~30% Chinese owned. I'm sure other large denkiyas have similar plans. If China lowers their import tariffs the reason to leave the country to shop will disappear completely.

[Greji]

the reason to leave the country to shop will disappear completely.

Most of my Chinese visitors will of course conduct the business they came for, but a number of them (around 95+%) are highly interested in when, where and how soon, they can get laid. That goal and the business goal are sometimes in conflict as to which should be completed first. It does make it easier for me to talk with them, having mutual interest and all.

So they will have one reason to come that will not disappear.....

[FG Lurker]

a number of them (around 95+%) are highly interested in when, where and how soon, they can get laid.

Guess it's fitting that Japan is now the 3rd world country others are coming to for sex tourism instead of being the economic powerhouse sending people out for sex holidays.

[Greji]

others are coming to for sex tourism

They weren't before? You mean people were actually coming here to see the temples and enjoy the four seasons?

[Christoff]

i myself am fond of the kabukicho temple of meat curtain