Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday launched a key advisory panel to draw up a midterm program to increase the number of people visiting Japan.
The body is considering raising the current target of 20 million annual foreign arrivals in 2020. A high-ranking government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, earlier indicated the target could be raised to 30 million a year or higher.
The panel, chaired by Abe and consisting of 10 Cabinet ministers and seven outside advisers, has been tasked with drawing up a new tourism promotion policy by the end of next March.