An advisory panel to the Transport Ministry on Friday urged the government to introduce a "preclearance" system for customs, immigration and quarantine procedures for foreign participants in major international events, such as the planned soccer World Cup in 2002.
In a report submitted to Transport Minister Hajime Morita, the Tourism Policy Council said Japan should try harder to attract more foreign tourists by taking advantage of the recent revolution in information technology.
This is the first time in five years that the panel has issued proposals for promoting tourism.