big-will 7 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Interesting Japan 'offers 10,000 free trips to foreigners' Japan will offer 10,000 foreigners free airfares to visit the country next year, in an attempt to boost the tourism industry which has been hit by the ongoing nuclear disaster, a report said on Monday. The Japan Tourism Agency plans to ask would-be travellers to submit online applications for the free flights, detailing which areas of the country they would like to visit, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said. The agency will select the successful entrants and ask them to write a report about their trip which will be published on the internet. Tourism authorities hope that positive reports from travellers about their experiences in Japan will help ease international worries about visiting the country, the newspaper said. The programme, which will require travellers to cover other costs such as accommodation, is expected to start from next April, subject to government budgetary approval. The number of foreign tourists to Japan fell more than 50 per cent year-on-year during the three months after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns and explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The sharp drop began to ease somewhat in the summer. In June and July, tourist figures were down 36 per cent from a year ago, easing to 32 per cent in August as the country worked to reassure foreign tourism markets. The government has said Japan is safe except for the immediate vicinity of the crippled plant, where work crews are still trying to bring the facility to a cold shutdown. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 I noticed that. They will sure get a fair bit of coverage out of that. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 I know a few people who will be itching to enter that one! Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Wonder how they will choose the winners. Link to post Share on other sites
yoroshiku onegai shimasu 2 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Budget of 1,100,000,000 yen apparently. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Sounds like a good idea to me. Will be interesting to hear how it works out. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 I have already set my alarm for April - Bought a 2012 Calendar and marked April. I would love to get one of those flights. And as for accomodation costs, well I have heaps of Snow Japan friends to visit Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Great offer! Let me go! Let me go! Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 I work in Tourism in Oz and think it is a great initiative. I would think that it would be a good idea initially to invite travel writers, in- bound travel agents, tourism operators etc. I am available - Pick me! Pick me! Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 I've been picked to lead a group of up to 30 to Tokyo, Kyoto and some late season turns in Hokkaido. Cant wait. Hopefully they'll pick me too Link to post Share on other sites
miller 1 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 I know about 20 people who are going to take part in this. They'll get a lot of people filling out the form. Wonder how they will "pick"? A selection from each area/country? "Random"? Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 It may take a while 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. We appreciate your kind understanding. About JNTO Contact Us Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Its a bit weird if this has been announced with a number and an approximate schedule but "no details have have been decided yet". It sounds like a deliberate leak to test reaction and basically overpower any political opposition. With newspapers printing press releases as front page news these days, this looks like very cheap publicity. If the cost of flights to Japan is an issue, perhaps they could scrap the outrageous fuel surcharge on flights only if you buy them in Japan. This would mean more Japanese people flying overseas and supporting more routes and more vigorous competition. The driving demand on flights to and from Japan is Japanese and Japan-based people, not people living overseas. Scrapping the fuel surcharge would destroy JAL, but that's long overdue anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 If this is done properly it will target growth markets. That means loads of "free" flights for people living in China and Korea (as well as a few other select asian countries). I can't imagine the number of westerners coming from far away places (i.e. expensive flights) will be considered for this type of giveaway. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Subject to approval!? Hmmm. A planned leak or someone naughty let the plan out? Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Can you spell ``trial balloon'' Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 If it doesn't get approved there'll be 'trouble'. Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 this is genius! Make up a story with nothing to back it up, then have people spending the next few months thinking that just maybe theyll get picked and doing research about japan. Then quietly drop the programme because no one agreed to fund it anyway (or massively scale it down - to say a couple of free seats off peak on some JAL planes), then have those people who 'didnt get picked' say to themselves "well we kinda researched what we'd hit up and all that and actually japan sounds like a great idea for a holiday! we should just go anyway!" Genius! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Yeah, they've got the publicity without spending the money, so you could argue there is no need for it now. For some reason, this reminds me of the bit in "1984" where they announce the "increase" in the chocolate ration. Link to post Share on other sites
agrimm 0 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Yeah, they've got the publicity without spending the money, so you could argue there is no need for it now. For some reason, this reminds me of the bit in "1984" where they announce the "increase" in the chocolate ration. I thought you were going to talk about the lottery in that book, where all the big winners are in parts of the country far away from wherever you live so you couldn't verify the reports. To be honest, I was almost relieved that the plan is on hold. Getting free flights because of a calamity, or getting free flights because of exaggerated fears about the situation, either way it'd feel like I'd be taking advantage of the situation. Just my A$0.02. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Well, you would come back, do a write up and spread the word. I think that is the idea of the idea. You would also need to pay for everything else, so I think you could sleep at night. No doubt some people would take and not give back, but hopefully a decent percentage would give back. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Very good agrimm! You've beaten me with the same book.I'll have to get it out again. The copyright on it has probably expired, so it might be free to download. Basically, lets all cheer the government announcement. Although it mightn't be what it seems. Aside from the reasons behind it, its not even decided yet and may go the same way as the child allowance and the free highways. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Have child allowances been stopped? Free highways hey. That was nice idea. From my point of view, wanting to use them. Sure will be interesting to see if this gets approved now or not. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Who do we complain to when it doesn't happen? And, when I don't win! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 The child allowance was promised to go to 26,000 a month. They've brought in a much smaller allowance, but for quite a few folks its merely replaced a regional benefit that was already there, so they're no better off. I think you'll find most people consider it an example of the gov promising one thing and delivering another. Link to post Share on other sites
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