Announced today - the Japanese ministry of tourism is going to invite 10,000 foreigners to Japan - and pay for your travel.
Applications will be done through the internets and folks will be invited during 2012. Applicants need to submit their travel plans for when they are in Japan and if the government thinks that you truly intend to visit (and not overstay as an illegal immigrant) then they will pay for your return ticket.
The Japanese governments strategy for this plan is that they expect travelers to blog and use social media to spread the word about their experience in Japan which should hopefully lead to more folks visiting Japan.
The amount of foreigners visiting Japan since the earthquake and nuclear accident has decreased a ton - some prefectures like Yamagata have experienced up to 80% drop in overseas visitors.
10,000 free tickets to foreigners ... 1.1 billion budget for the Tourism Agency
The giant earthquake Tourism Agency aims to recover the foreign tourists have decreased after the earthquake East, from around the world in fiscal 2012, Japan plans to invite 10,000 tourists generally travel free of charge.
Recruitment is done primarily through the Internet, if they pass the examination and the applicant's travel plans, to provide a return ticket to Japan.
Thus travelers coming to Japan, plans to disseminate information to get the world on the Internet during their stay in Japan. Effects are expected to spread worldwide safety review that is staying in Japan. In addition to tourists, and a questionnaire about Smart Deal after the earthquake, or ask your travel plans to propose such a model for a new Smart Deal. As project costs, incorporating tourism agency budget requests 1.1 billion yen in FY2000.
After the earthquake, some accidents TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the situation has continued to shy away from foreign travelers in Japan. Number of foreigners coming to Japan, then dropped to 62.5 percent, down from a year earlier in April, 68,000,054 people remained the same, down 31.9 percent in August even.
Before that in 2010, had a record high of about 861 million people last year, an increase of 26.8%. The government has set a goal to raise 30 million people in the future the number of foreigners in Japan.
Don't know why I have feeling that there will be a condition to must visit town of "Fukushima" to show the world that not only Japanese are ok to live and visit "Fukushima " but also People around the world are fine to visit "Fukushima".
This is from the Japan National Tourist Organitation:
Regarding articles that "JAPAN OFFERS 10,000 FREE FLIGHTS TO FOREIGNERS"
Thank you very much for your interest in visiting Japan and for your keen response towards the "JAPAN OFFERS 10,000 FREE FLIGHTS TO FOREIGNERS" news.
Recently a number of media outlets have publicised articles about this, however it is subject to government budgetary approval,and no details have been decided yet.
Can you tell me that when the application of great offer by the government of japan to visit free japan will be started.Please inform me.And also tell me the complete process of this. please help me.
Can you tell me that when the application of great offer by the government of japan to visit free japan will be started.Please inform me.And also tell me the complete process of this. please help me.
Can you tell me that when the application of great offer by the government of japan to visit free japan will be started.Please inform me.And also tell me the complete process of this. please help me.
I am very thankful to you for this.
If you help me, I will send you a million dollars in unmarked $2 bills. All you have to do is send $20 to some place in Nigeria.
DelCheapo said: So the Japanese ministry of tourism makes a press release about this before the government approves budget for it.
Smart move.
Actually I think this is a very smart move by the Japanese tourism board. Looking at the site, they are getting hits in the 100k range on the "Places to visit in Japan" links. I think that their tourism will probably go up quite a bit just by folks researching where to go for their "free" trip even if the program is never implemented.
There will always be a small percentage of folks who like what they see while doing the research and decide to go either way...
I have been twice just at the Japanese airports, once in Osaka and the second time in Norita, Tokyo. Those were just stopovers to Thailand. I felt sorry, that I didn't take few days or a week off, to see the countryside. I would love to spend there a month, free ticket would be a bonus. How and when could i try my luck and be one of those applying? With regards, Jara Rank Victoria B.C. Canada
Fantastic gesture. Anyday they are advanced in anything. Better vision. I am from Chennai South India-Currently I am in Hamamatsu, Japan-people are very friendly, courteous and helping nature. Any offer for my family before the Secondweek of january 2012 we will be very happy-concerned authorities can also mail to my I'd- gayathris1@yahoo.co.in
Thank you very much for your interest in visiting Japan.
Recently a number of media outlets have publicized reports about ”Japan offering 10,000 free flights to foreigners”. However, this initiative to be carried out from April 2012 onwards is still under examination for government budgetary approval and is at this moment undecided.
If the initiative is confirmed and put into operation, Japan Tourism Agency will officially announce details on this website. To receive instant notifications on this and more related news, join your local Japan National Tourism Organization on Facebook (http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/fb/index.html) now!
Warning: There have been reports in some countries about acts of fraud related to this media report. The Japanese government has not committed to provide free flight tickets to Japan to anybody. Please be careful not to get caught up in this kind of fraud.
Thank you for this information. I have been told by several folks in Alaska about these free tickets, and so many people are excited. I visited Japan lat New Years, we visited Kyoto Temples and traveled around the country on train. I would love to return and spend more time enjoying the country.
Unfortunately, it sounds like this is NOT happening. Link
Japan Tourism Agency said: The project titled Fly to Japan! (to offer flight tickets to 10,000 foreigners with high potential to communicate Japan’s attractions), which had been covered in a number of media in autumn this year, was not approved as a governmental draft budget of FY 2012.
Yuyak said: Unfortunately, it sounds like this is NOT happening. Link
Thanks! Not surprising in the least, really. For those who don't know, the Japanese leadership make US politicians look like highly qualified, super efficient, leaders.
I got a plan to give away 10,000 tickets to the Super Bowl.
I haven't heard from the NFL yet. But stay tuned and follow Fatwallet because this is the best forum ever. You will hear it here first if someone from the NFL PM's me about this.
germanpope said: I got a plan to give away 10,000 tickets to the Super Bowl.
I haven't heard from the NFL yet. But stay tuned and follow Fatwallet because this is the best forum ever. You will hear it here first if someone from the NFL PM's me about this.
lollllllllll I signed up for fat wallet just to respond to this post. I'm feeling the exact same way. lol
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