The government will raise its annual target for the number of foreign visitors to Japan to 30 million, as the current target of 20 million by 2020 is likely to be attained soon, government officials said Friday.
A new panel will also be launched — and hold its first meeting Monday — to compile a set of measures by year-end to achieve the new goal, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.
About 19.5 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Japan this year, Suga said in a speech last month, as a tally by the Japan National Tourism Organization showed the number topped 15 million as of Oct. 9, growing steadily from a record 13.41 million in 2014.
The panel will consider such measures as encouraging low-cost carriers to increase use of local airports across Japan and expediting immigration checks, government officials said.
Ways to increase the number of bilingual guides and boost multilingual communication will also be discussed, as well as improving transportation networks linking local airports with tourist spots and addressing the shortage of chartered buses and accommodations, they said.
Members of the new panel include Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, relevant ministers, and seven individuals from the private sector including Peach Aviation Ltd. CEO Shinichi Inoue and Mayumi Oda, innkeeper of traditional inn Kagaya in Ishikawa Prefecture.