Chinese Herald News On May 30, the Japanese government held a meeting of the cabinet for promoting the establishment of tourism at the Prime Minister's official residence, and summarized the action plan to increase the number of tourists visiting Japan. The main content is to promote personnel exchanges in a wide range of fields such as business, research, culture and art, and sports. It is reported that the number of tourists visiting Japan from January to April this year totaled about 6.74 million, recovering to 61.4% of the same period in 2019. The Japanese government has set a goal of setting a new record of 31.88 million visitors to Japan by 2025, and is stepping up efforts to improve its efforts.
On May 30, the Japanese government launched an action plan to increase the number of foreigners visiting Japan. This includes promoting the acceptance of people who use digital technology to travel the world telecommuting and visiting Japan for medical purposes such as medical treatment, and strengthening action plans other than tourism to increase the number and consumption of foreigners visiting Japan. The goal of the program is to promote the acceptance of domestic tourism and attract more foreigners to Japan through a series of measures to promote the development of tourism in Japan and the increase of international exchanges.
First, the action plan focuses on the use of digital technologies to promote telecommuting and digital nomads. With the rapid development of the Internet and communication technology, more and more people can work and travel freely around the world. The Japanese government plans to provide convenient visa issuance and entry procedures to attract digital nomads who wish to work and travel in Japan. This will help increase the number of foreigners visiting Japan and provide them with an innovative and diverse working environment. Regarding the issue of visas for long-term stays in Japan and the status of residence system, we will "institutionalize them during the current year."
Secondly, the action plan looks at the field of medical tourism. Japan has a world leader in some medical technologies, such as cancer particle radiotherapy. In order to attract more foreigners with medical needs to receive treatment in Japan, the government plans to expand the scope of foreign patients and provide information and support for related medical institutions. In addition, the government plans to provide medical services in multiple languages to ensure that foreign patients can receive high-quality medical care and provide them with a comfortable and convenient medical experience.
For purposes other than tourism, such as business and conference visits, the government will actively promote the smooth issuance of visas and immigration procedures. According to the plan, in 2019, before the new crown epidemic, Japan will be the eighth largest international conference in the world, aiming to be among the top five by 2030. In addition to mobilizing domestic and foreign companies, the company will ensure smooth visa issuance and immigration procedures for conference participants. Smooth immigration procedures and a comfortable entry experience will increase Japan's attractiveness as a business and conference destination and inject more vitality into the Japanese economy.
The Japanese government also plans to work with the private sector to promote the development and provision of more innovative tourism products and services. Through cooperation with hotels, travel agencies, transportation and other industries, the government will promote the development of more tourism products that meet the needs of foreign tourists, such as customized travel itineraries, cultural experience activities and special catering services. This will enrich the travel experience of foreigners visiting Japan, increase their satisfaction, and encourage them to choose Japan as their travel destination again. Aiming for a 20% increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan in the field of spectators and sports from 2.29 million in 2019 to 2.7 million in 2025. For example, through judo, which Japan is proud of, we can connect overseas martial arts halls with online training and experience activities, creating opportunities for local customers.
In terms of strengthening promotion and publicity activities in the international market, the Japanese government will spread Japan's unique charm and attractiveness to the world by participating in international travel exhibitions, holding Japanese cultural events, and launching well-planned marketing activities, so as to increase Japan's visibility and competitiveness in the international tourism market and attract more foreign tourists to visit and experience Japan.
In order to attract more foreigners to Japan, the government plans to provide multilingual support and services. This means that guides, information and guide services in multiple languages will be available at important places such as airports, hotels, tourist attractions and other important places to meet the needs of foreign tourists. In addition, the government plans to train more multilingual personnel to provide high-quality language translation and communication services. By providing a convenient and friendly multilingual environment, Japan will become a more inclusive and friendly tourist destination.
The Japanese government's action plan will strive to increase the number of foreigners visiting Japan through a number of initiatives, including strengthening visa issuance, providing multilingual services, promoting publicity, and cooperating with the private sector. With the gradual implementation of the action plan, Japan will be elevated to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.