Japan to offer 10,000 free visits

AFP October 10, 2011, 4:13 pm

AAP ©

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 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 program, 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 in 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.

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Steven2 hours, 41 minutes agoReport Abuse Wonder who will get offered those freebies..
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Sydney2 hours, 39 minutes agoReport Abuse ..very smart :)
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robert2 hours, 35 minutes agoReport Abuse You won't have to worry about electricity when you come home, because you'll glow in the dark.
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great1eatsroostajiz1 hour, 57 minutes agoReport Abuse At least the taxi drivers there wash. Not like the Indian taxi drivers we have here who have never washed in their lives and fill their cabs with a disgusting stench that would make a brown dog want to vomit. Japanese woman are not butt ugly like Indian chicks either. And did I mention the foul odour of Indian people, what is with that. SOAP, you ignorant heathens. How hard is it to use it once a day? The Ganges smells like a flower bed compared to Indian people.
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susanne s1 hour, 45 minutes agoReport Abuse off you go Julia and don'f come back
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Ajit1 hour, 34 minutes agoReport Abuse I agree with great1eatsroostajiz, I am of Indian origin and ashamed to call these stinky punjabi taxi drivers Indians. They spoilt the name of Indians and Indian culture anyway,...........I admire Japaneese people, their courage to fight against all the odds, no panic, taking everything so calmly, I really appreciate that Efforts by Japans Tourisms to promote Japan, I will travel to Japan
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Weatherman1 hour, 30 minutes agoReport Abuse Oh great1eatsroosta... I don't normally go for comment such as yours but, yes, why is it that deodorant is a NO NO? Don't put any dogs in a cab. Indian chicks are becoming very attractive and they are wonderfully intelligent..OK i know just one. Soap, usually used in a shower???
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christopher1 hour, 26 minutes agoReport Abuse Tourism is the world's second biggest industry, of course, behind oil, gas etc. If you leave home with discretionary money - you are a tourist.
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Ex New Zealander1 hour, 12 minutes agoReport Abuse Love Japan
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Kooky50 minutes agoReport Abuse very great by japan tourism dept. i once visited japan in the year 2000. but now would like to see it again along with my 4 years son, i am really impressed with the courage of that nice Nation (Japan) have good luk Japanees people.
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