Foreign visitors arriving in Japan could breeze through immigration as the country looks for new ways to amplify a tourism boom that is boosting its economy.
The Japanese government will introduce a new preclearance system from January 2025, starting with tourists from Taiwan, according to local reports. Visitors will be able to complete most of their immigration screening before departure to help shorten the time taken for entry procedures on arrival.
The decision comes after a record number of tourists are flocking to the country this year. Around 17.8 million people came in the first half of the year, according to a local agency. June also marked the fourth straight month where monthly visitors exceeded 3 million, while spending by foreign tourists for the April-June quarter hit a record of USD 13.4 billion, the agency said.
The weak yen is driving the influx of tourists into the country, providing a boost to Japan’s fragile economy and its regions. The currency hit a 38-year low against the American dollar earlier this month as the gap in interest rates between Japan and the United States continues to apply a downward pressure on the currency.
The slump in the yen has turned Japan from a pricey bucket-list trip to a relatively inexpensive tourism and shopping destination. The current Japanese government’s goal is to reach 60 million visitors annually by 2030.
Underscoring booming inbound travel demand, ANA Holdings Inc said it will start three European routes from Haneda Airport this winter starting with Milan in December 2024, Stockholm in January 2025 and Istanbul in February 2025. In addition to this, ANA plans to restart its Haneda-Vienna route in August 2024.
While the weakness in the yen is attracting tourists and shoppers to Japan, it is also fueling the strongest inflation cycle in decades, a factor that is dragging on domestic consumer spending.
Meanwhile, there has also been a growing backlash among some locals annoyed by the ever-increasing influx. Kyoto’s local district council has banned visitors from the narrow private streets of the Gion district, while local authorities in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi prefecture, erected a barrier to stop tourists from taking photos at a convenience store with Mount Fuji in the background.
(With inputs from multiple news sources)