‘Unprepared’ Japan struggles with airport chaos, bin shortages amid tourist boom
As Japan rides a wave of record-breaking tourist arrivals, foreign visitors are voicing growing frustrations over lengthy immigration queues, overcrowded attractions and a surprising lack of public rubbish bins – issues analysts say could hinder the nation’s goal of welcoming 60 million tourists a year by 2030.A Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) survey found that while more than half of respondents had smooth travel experiences, many noted infrastructure and service issues at airports and tourist spots.The findings come as preliminary data suggest Japan is on track to exceed 40 million overseas arrivals in 2025, up from a historic high of 36.9
Luxury Tokyo hotels face watchdog warning over data-sharing that may have inflated prices
Japan’s competition regulator is poised to issue warnings to 15 of Tokyo’s top hotels for sharing pricing data in a way that authorities say may have unfairly distorted the capital’s luxury accommodation market and disadvantaged consumers.An investigation by the Japan Fair Trade Commission determined that representatives of the hotels held meetings every month to share information on their operations, including room occupancy rates, average room rates and future pricing plans, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.The JFTC concluded that the executives’ discussions may have influenced nightly rates, though it stopped short of declaring the hotels had formed a cartel to inflate profits.Still,
Osaka Expo’s ticket sales flop: will Japan’s futuristic fair be a financial failure?
The coming World Expo in Osaka, touted as a grand exhibition of futuristic culture, has struggled to attract visitors, with poor ticket sales highlighting broader issues of cost overruns, construction delays and waning public enthusiasm for large-scale events in ageing Japan.Advance ticket sales for the expo have been so disappointing that the Japanese government is considering scrapping its policy of requiring them to be bought in advance and allowing visitors to pay to enter on the same day.Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said authorities were looking into the matter after a meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday with Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura,
Japan weighs steep travel tax increase to fight overtourism. Will it work?
Japan has begun a consultation to sharply increase a tourist tax imposed on departing travellers to fund initiatives aimed at addressing overtourism in parts of the country.The existing fee, which is 1,000 yen (US$6.64) per person, could go up to 5,000 yen (US$33.20), as a committee of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party deliberates on the matter and how to spend the extra income.The government’s move was in part motivated by other nations like Egypt and Australia that charge outbound passengers about 3,750 yen and 7,000 yen, respectively, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.Japan’s travel industry admitted that tackling overtourism should be prioritised
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