TOKYO, 16 October 2018: Japan will introduce eVisas for tourists by April 2020 as the country streamlines visa procedures in readiness to welcome 60 million foreign visitors a year by 2030.
The first version of the online eVisa will be offered to Chinese tourists to add convenience and to speed up immigration checks.
The eVisa will be applicable for a single entry and based on the response in the China market it will be rolled out for other nationalities.
Introducing an eVisa for Chinese will reduce queues at checkpoints and make it more convenient for Chinese travellers, who currently need to apply in advance for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate.
According to the Foreign Ministry, around 60% of all the visas issued in 2017 were for Chinese tourists.
The eVisa simplifies the application process while reducing the workload for consulate staff. It will also streamline process ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Japan welcomed a record 28.7 million foreign visitors in 2017, up 19.3% from the previous year with spend rising 17.8% to an all-time high USD39 billion.
Japan forecasts 40 million tourists by 2020 and 60 million by 2030.
This year the figure should reach 30 million despite multiple natural disasters including a massive earthquake in Hokkaido and torrential storms and a typhoon in the country’s west region.
(Source: Kyodo)
