Sunday, September 15, 2024 Japan is exploring a new initiative to offer free passports to 18-year-olds as part of its strategy to encourage international travel among young people. This proposal, announced by Hiroyuki Takahashi, chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents, aims to address the declining number of young Japanese travelers. As of 2023, only about 17 percent of Japanese citizens possessed a passport, which Takahashi argues limits travel opportunities for youth.
The Japan National Tourism Organization reported a significant drop in international travel, with only 6.85 million Japanese nationals traveling abroad between January and July 2024. This figure represents a 38.
9 percent decline compared to the same period in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease is attributed to a weak yen and increasing travel expenses. Takahashi’s proposal includes providing a five-year passport free of charge to new adults to boost their interest in overseas travel.
Additionally, he suggested issuing passports to students upon their completion of junior high school to encourage more high schools to organize international trips. This move could potentially enhance Japan’s global connectivity and broaden travel experiences for young people. In related news, Japan’s government has announced plans to increase international flight connectivity in response to rising demand.
New agreements are being negotiated with airlines to enhance flight schedules and improve accessibility to key global destinations. This initiative aligns with Japan’s goal of attracting 60 million inbound tourists by 2030 and increasing outbound travel to at least 30 million by the same year. These developments and proposals will be highlighted at a tourism expo from September 26 to 29 at a major convention center in Tokyo, organized by the Japan Association of Travel Agents along with other industry partners.
The expo will serve as a platform to discuss strategies for boosting international travel and tourism in Japan..
