Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

A few days before the start of FITUR, the airline and the Spanish Tourism Institute present a campaign to promote Spain among the nearly seven million travellers who fly with Iberia between America and Europe each year.In an event led by the actors Gorka Otxoa and María Castro, which will be attended by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto (TBC), this afternoon, at the Madrid Matadero cultural centre, Iberia and Turespaña will unveil a very special tourism marketing campaign to bring the best of Spain to the world.
At FITUR´s door, Iberia and Turespaña will present a project on which they have been working during 2022 to promote Spain among the nearly seven million customers who fly with Iberia each year between Europe and America.
One of the key parts of this project is the new on-board safety video that will be shown on the 36 aircraft in Iberia’s long-haul fleet, which operate the American´s airline routes: 26 destinations in 17 countries, including the United States, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico, where Turespaña is focusing on attracting high-income visitors to our country.50% of Iberia´s long-haul travellers are connecting passengers via Madrid coming from any of the more than 50 destinations in Europe offered by the airline, thereby maximising the impact on potential international visitors to Spain.
“This collaboration with Iberia allows us to directly reach its millions of customers who arrive on its long-haul flights and show them that in Spain they can enjoy not only our beaches and good weather, but also rich cultural and gastronomic experiences, and exceptional leisure choices. The video reflects the diversity and richness of our nation, its natural landscapes, its vibrant cities, the north and the south, its islands, the coast, and mainland Spain, still undiscovered by many travellers. Places, all of them, where you can enjoy memorable experiences”, says Miguel Sanz, General Director at Turespaña.
In addition to the on-board safety video, which will be shown at the start of Iberia´s flights as part of the security protocol, Iberia and Turespaña launched a tourism promotion campaign in the media -showing outdoor locations in the abovementioned cities- and on social networks.ADVERTISEMENTSingular Enclaves
The on-board safety video that Iberia will offer in collaboration with Turespaña showcases Spanish talent in all disciplines and explores privileged enclaves of our geography.
The video takes off with the actress Itziar Ituño walking through the streets of Madrid to arrive at the Teatro Real, where Iberia’s cabin crew welcomes her.
The music and images show us a panoramic view of Toledo, where the singer Rozalén receives instructions on the use of electronic devices on board.
The singer keeps her mobile phone in a backpack that becomes the hand luggage of the judoka Niko Shera, accompanied by Iberia’s cabin crew, as he wanders through the Plaza del Obradoiro, in Santiago de Compostela.
The images take us to a cliff in Finisterre where the judoka follows the instructions on placing his hand luggage, leaving the plane’s aisles and evacuation routes free.
We then jump to Lanzarote; on a volcanic beach, the gymnast Ray Zapata simulates the position of the backrest for take-off and landing, how to raise the window blind, and how to fold up the footrest and table.
Ray’s last pirouette takes us to Barcelona, to the workshop of the designer Teresa Helbig, where we learn how to fasten the seat belt, while the dressmaker fits the Iberia crew with the uniform that she designed, and that the airline debuted last year.
The cabin crews walk, as if they were moving down the aisle of the plane and arrive at the Alhambra in Granada. The columns of the Court of the Lions simulate the exit doors, four on each side of the plane. This time it is the painter Pedro Paricio who listens to the instructions.
From a magical door in the Alhambra, the cabin crews jump onto a rescue boat wearing life jackets and, by their side, the sailor Silvia Más, listens, surprised, to their instructions as she sails along the coast of Mallorca.
The video jumps back to Dabiz Muñoz’s kitchen to explain the use of the safety mask in case of an emergency on board.The movements of the Madrid chef lead us to another visual artist, Susso33, who also puts on a mask to paint, on the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, a large no smoking on board sign.
And back to the Teatro Real in Madrid: Itziar Ituño is already preparing to take off while checking the safety instructions. The curtain closes with the message “happy flying”.
Support for Spanish talent
All the participants in the safety video are part of the Talent on Board project that Iberia launched in 2019, with the aim of supporting Spanish and Spanish-speaking talent, and as one of the pillars of its brand mission: to connect people and cultures, generate prosperity, all with a Spanish accent.
As part of its on-board talent project, Iberia has already supported more than 100 sports, culture and R+D+i initiatives. “After more than three years marked by the pandemic, we want to give new impetus to our Talent on Board project, because it is undoubtedly one more way of addressing Iberia’s mission while being consistent and inclusive and valuing the best of our culture and language, which we share with Latin America”, says Gemma Juncá, Director of Marketing and Brand at Iberia.
The latest talent to join the project is Julieta Venegas who will close the event with a musical performance.

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Trip.com Group, the leading global travel service provider, has seen mainland Chinese demand for travel continue to surge in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday season.This comes after the decision last month by mainland China to officially abolish all quarantine restrictions for inbound visitors from 8 January.
Since the announcement on 26 December 2022, Trip.com Group has subsequently seen a huge increase in searches and the volume of travel bookings.Flight bookings and destination search trends
On Trip.com Group’s leading Chinese language travel service platform Ctrip, between 26 December 2022 and 5 January 2023, search interest for outbound flights from mainland China increased by 83% compared to the two-week period prior, with outbound flight bookings increasing by 59% over the same period.
Bookings show the most popular cross-border destinations include: Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia.
Lunar New Year TrendsADVERTISEMENTWith millions set to be on the move during the Lunar New Year holiday in China, also known as Spring Festival, which takes place from 21 – 27 January 2023 and the first major holiday following the liberalisation of border policies, outbound bookings for trips have grown significantly.
Analysis of Ctrip data shows overseas travel for the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday surged by 540% compared to last year’s Spring Festival; and the average cost of bookings was revealed to have risen by 32% year-on-year.
Ctrip data also shows airline bookings from mainland China to Hong Kong increased by 18 times compared with the previous year, following the announcement to ease restrictions. The number of airline bookings to Hong Kong has also increased by 36% month-on-month. Similarly, the search popularity of Hong Kong on the platform was more than double that and increased by 85% month-on-month.
Taking a deeper look, the top ten most popular domestic destinations for the Spring festival are Shanghai, Beijing, Sanya, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou, Chongqing and Haikou.
Southeast Asia Shines as Top Outbound Destination
As of January 12, 2023, in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday, overall travel bookings of mainland Chinese tourists to Southeast Asian countries increased by 1026% compared with the same period last year. The number of air ticket bookings from mainland China to Southeast Asia increased by 864% year-on-year, and the top 5 most popular destination countries for mainland Chinese tourists traveling to Southeast Asia during the Lunar New Year holiday are: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
According to Ctrip’s data, from December 27 to January 11, Thailand stands out as a top destination for Chinese tourists during the Spring Festival holiday on the platform. During the same period, inbound travel bookings from Thailand to mainland China increased by 101% year-on-year.
In addition to this, as of January 12, the number of mainland tourists traveling to Singapore for the Lunar New Year holiday increased by 499% year-on-year, Malaysia saw an increase of 584% year-on-year, with Cambodia and Indonesia each increasing by more than 10 times year-on-year.
A Welcoming Return for Chinese Tourists
With the adjustment of mainland China’s entry and exit policy, the cross-border travel market is also picking up with embassies and tourism boards across the world targeting Chinese tourists aiming to attract them back to visit their countries.
One example is The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) who launched a campaign called ‘CHINA IS BACK’, to welcome the return of Chinese tourists. They expect more than 300,000 Chinese tourists to visit Thailand in the first three months of 2023 alone.
Trip.com Group’s first livestream broadcast targeting the outbound mainland Chinese audience recorded sales of more than 20,000 room nights amounting to a Gross Merchandise Value of over RMB 40 million (THB 197 million). The livestream session was supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which has been collaborating closely with Trip.com Group over the years. TAT Governor, Mr Yuthasak Supasorn, joined the broadcast and interacted with viewers.
Hosted by Trip.com Group Vice President Sun Tianxu and presenter Xiao Yu, the livestream session featured almost 60 products, including attractions tickets and staycation packages at hotels across Thailand such as The Peninsula Bangkok, Capella Bangkok, InterContinental Pattaya Resort, and Banyan Tree Krabi.

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Universal Parks & Resorts announces a one-of-a-kind theme park, unlike any other in the world, specifically designed to inspire fun for families with young children. The new park concept, set in a lush green landscape and featuring immersive themed lands, celebrates Universal’s iconic brand of entertainment, humor and innovation and brings to life its beloved characters and stories in ways that will wow even the youngest theme park goers.
The proposed park will be designed to be more intimate and engaging for younger audiences and will be sized for a regional audience.  It will be full of family-friendly attractions, interactive and playful shows, character meet and greets, unique merchandise and fun food and beverage venues. Although smaller in size, it will still carry the same quality as Universal’s other larger resort destinations.
Part of 97 acres of land recently purchased by the company, the proposed park also has plans for an adjacent themed hotel and room for expansion. The entire area is intended to have a completely different look, feel, and scale than Universal’s existing parks and will appeal to a new audience for the brand. 
Universal Parks & Resorts selected the city of Frisco, in North Texas, as the area for this new concept given the city’s growing population and ability to attract businesses to the area. The proposed location for the new concept is ideally situated east of the Dallas North Tollway and north of Panther Creek Parkway.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the city of Frisco and Mayor Cheney as we work to bring this innovative, new concept to life designed specifically for a younger generation of Universal fans,” said Page Thompson, President, New Ventures, Universal Parks & Resorts. “We think North Texas is the perfect place to launch this unique park for families given its growing popularity within this part of the country.” ADVERTISEMENT“Frisco is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. and has been recognized as a great place to plant professional roots and raise a family,” said Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney. “This new Universal concept will continue to enhance our tax base, expand employment opportunities and bring even more fun to Frisco benefiting our residents, businesses, and visitors.”
More details about the project will be revealed over time. To stay informed, visit Corporate.UniversalParks.com.

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UNWTO, in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and UN Women has launched a free online training course focused on gender equality within the tourism sector.The course, which is available through atingi.org, is part of the pioneering ‘Centre Stage’ project which is putting women’s empowerment at the heart of tourism development. Aimed at National Tourism Administrations, tourism businesses, tourism students and civil society organizations, it focuses on the importance of gender equality, why women’s empowerment matters and what steps can be taken to advance diversity and inclusion efforts across the sector.
Education is key to reimagining the future of tourism and although our sector employs a huge number of women, equality is remains a long way off
UNWTO Secretary General said: “Education is key to reimagining the future of tourism and although our sector employs a huge number of women, equality is remains a long way off. We call on all tourism businesses and organizations to use this free course to train their staff and help us to ensure that tourism continues to be at the forefront of gender-equality efforts.”
The training course can be taken for free at any time in English, Spanish, Arabic, French and Russian on atingi.org. Users are issued with a certificate upon successful completion of the course. For more information, contact: [email protected]

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New research from leading travel app Expedia® reveals the over-scheduled holiday season has prompted many Americans to plan a “nothing-cation,” a trip where warm weather and relaxation are the main attractions. According to a survey of 4,000 U.S. travelers conducted during December, more than a third (34%) report feeling burned out from the holidays, and nearly everyone surveyed (96%) plans to spend a portion of their next trip doing absolutely nothing.Expedia internal data confirms January is one of the top months for researching and booking beach vacations, which is a favorite trip type for nothing-cationers. On average, about a quarter of getaways planned during the first month of the year are to beach destinations, and many hotspots including Cancun, Riviera Maya, Punta Cana and Oahu are already seeing double-digit increases in demand compared to the same time in 2019.2
“There’s a time and place for an action-packed vacation itinerary, but our data shows the first trip after the hectic holiday season calls for a more relaxed agenda,” says Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations. “For most travelers, getting the most out of their next vacation means setting aside dedicated time for nothing. One trick to avoid unnecessary stress while planning a nothing-cation is to bundle flights, hotel and car rental on the Expedia app, which not only saves you time but more than 10% off the price on average.”
When nothing is really something:According to Expedia’s research, nearly half (47%) of travelers say they like to start off the new year with a trip on the calendar to look forward to, as a remedy for feeling anxious (31%) or tired of cold and rainy weather (34%) in January. Furthermore, most (62%) agree that “doing nothing” is their favorite part of vacation and consider it time well-spent (61%).
Parents of young children (4 years old and under) are particularly in need of a nothing-cation, reporting higher levels of post-holiday burnout than average (49% compared to 34%). For them, a successful nothing-cation consists of watching movies in bed, reading and ordering room-service rather than dining out.
Plan a nothing-cation to remember:Travelers will have a chance to win $4,500 in Expedia points on January 18, 2023, by following @expedia on Tiktok, to use on a nothing-cation of their own.ADVERTISEMENTReady for some nothing-cation inspiration? Expedia’s travel experts compiled a shortlist of idyllic tropical destinations far from the crowds and perfect for days spent doing a whole lot of nothing. Head over to the Expedia Explore blog to learn more, including recommendations on where to stay.
Kauai, HawaiiCosta RicaFijiNevis, CaribbeanKoh Samui, ThailandAlgarve, PortugalSanibel Island, Florida

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Orlando, the most visited destination in the U.S. and Theme Park Capital of the World, kicks off 2023 with a wide a range of all-new experiences for visitors to enjoy.“Orlando is an ever-growing destination offering incredible new experiences, unique places to stay and diverse dining for travelers,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “With major new attractions opening at our theme parks, several brand-new hotels ranging from luxury to budget, and increased accessibility for travelers to arrive in Orlando, 2023 is the perfect time to visit our unbelievably real destination.”
Continuous updates on what’s new in Orlando can be found at VisitOrlando.com, the official visitor information source for the destination.
ATTRACTIONS
Walt Disney World Resort Based on the Disney sci-fi film TRON: Legacy, TRON Lightcycle / Run will open at Magic Kingdom Park in spring and take guests across a world without horizons in a high-stakes race in their very own Lightcycle.
Magic Kingdom Park’s updated nighttime spectacular will feature the return “Happily Ever After.”ADVERTISEMENTJourney of Water, inspired by Moana, opening late 2023 within World Nature at EPCOT, allows guests to explore and engage with water as it travels from the skies to the oceans and back again. Universal Orlando Resort Universal’s Great Movie Escape at Universal CityWalk is an escape room experience inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s blockbuster films Jurassic World and Back to the Future.
Opening this summer inside a new Minion land at Universal Studios Florida, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast will be a game-based adventure where guests encounter immersive environments, nefarious villains and mischievous Minions from Illumination’s blockbuster films. SeaWorld Orlando Parks & Entertainment Debuting spring at SeaWorld Orlando, Pipeline: The Surf Coaster will be the world’s first “Surf Coaster” offering immersive design elements, including a dynamic surfing launch and “wave jumping” motions.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort

LEGOLAND Florida’s family-friendly treasure hunt adventure – Pirate River Quest – will take guests through the uncharted waters of the legendary Cypress Gardens to discover the secrets protecting its canals starting early 2023.
HOTELS & RESORTS
Conrad Orlando will debut with 433 rooms, 40,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, a tranquil spa, numerous dining options and signature rooftop experience this fall. The hotel will be the first phase of Evermore Orlando Resort, a massive 10,000-bedroom resort complex.
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando — Disney Springs® Area, the newest official Walt Disney Partner Hotel, will be completed in the spring with 604 guestrooms, resort-style pool, splash pad, extensive marketplace and dining, complimentary hot breakfast and evening snacks, shuttle service to all four Walt Disney World® Resort theme parks and more.
Opening in winter and located in the International Drive Resort area, Cambria Hotel Orlando Universal Blvd is a 118-room property offering amenities including rooftop pool and lounge, state-of-the-art fitness center, the sophisticated Veer Kitchen & Bar restaurant and more.
Opening this fall, Aloft Lake Nona will be a six-story, 205-room music-themed property featuring a 10,000 square-foot conference center and full-service restaurant.
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes completed several multimillion-dollar renovations with new amenities and offerings, including an expansive waterpark, refreshed rooms/suites, inspired executive family suites, and redesigned lobby lounge.
Visitors staying at Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando will experience new additions – like the upscale Altira Rooftop Pool Lounge – and reimagined guest rooms and spaces like the property’s signature restaurant, The Boheme, and the Bösendorfer Lounge.
Award-winning boutique hotel The Alfond Inn at Rollins will complete renovations of 112 existing rooms/suites and add 71 luxury guestrooms and suites, meeting space and lobby café this summer. A new spa will feature seven treatment rooms and fitness area.
DINING & NIGHTLIFE
The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, an Indiana-based table service restaurant and bakery, will open a new location at Disney’s BoardWalk in Walt Disney World Resort in 2023, offering savory and sweet options and afternoon tea service in a whimsical atmosphere.
Brew Theory Marketplace, an all-new food hall coming to Apopka summer, will feature a full liquor bar, Brew Theory taproom, a beer garden and more.
Opening early 2023 in the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Rosa Mexicano will feature a menu showcasing a contemporary interpretation of authentic Mexican cuisine and an extensive beverage program boasting over 100 varieties of tequila and agave-based spirits.
Pointe Orlando has two new restaurant additions. KAVAS Tacos + Tequila, a concept by the owners of Tapa Toro and Taverna Opa, pays tribute to Mexico’s rich culinary history, with fresh tableside experiences and recipes hand-crafted from the freshest ingredients. JoJo’s ShakeBAR, offers a modern diner experience featuring incredibly Instagram-worthy desserts, milkshakes and smashburgers.
Dizzy Donuts, from Pizza Bruno’s Bruno Zacchini, is slated to open by early 2023 in College Park serving hot, made-to-order donuts tossed in different toppings, as well as prepared donuts dressed in more elaborate flavors.
ARTS & CULTURE
Orlando Fringe will open “Fringe ArtSpace,” a year-round performing arts venue this January in downtown Orlando. The 9,100 square foot space will include two performing theater spaces offering a mix of performances and pop-up events.
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will open Judson’s this fall, a dynamic music room offering intimate cabaret-style seating for live performances. Judson’s joins Steinmetz Hall, Walt Disney Theater and Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater as the fourth performance space in the $613 million, 9-acre venue.
TRANSPORTATION
Brightline Orlando Station, located at Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C, will connect domestic and international visitors traveling between Orlando and Miami with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Riders will enjoy touchless ticketing, premium in-station lounges, complimentary WiFi, and bars and restaurants at every Brightline station.

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As we enter the new year, the latest results from the Henley Passport Index provide fascinating insights into a world characterized by extraordinary upheaval and offer a revealing look at what lies ahead.For the fifth year running, Japan crowns the index, which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ranks all the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Japanese citizens can now visit an astonishing 193 destinations out of 227 visa-free, while those of South Korea and Singapore, which are tied in 2nd place, enjoy a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 192. Germany and Spain are joint 3rd, with visa-free access to 190 destinations worldwide. The UK and the US remain in 6th and 7th places, with scores of 187 and 186, respectively, and appear increasingly unlikely to regain the top spot they jointly held nearly a decade ago. 
Afghanistan remains firmly at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index, with a score of just 27 — 166 fewer visa-free destinations than Japan — the widest global mobility gap in the index’s 18-year history. Chairman of Henley & Partners, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, says the firm’s latest research into the link between visa-free travel and global economic access unpacks what passport power means in concrete financial terms. “For global citizens, a better measure of economic mobility and fiscal opportunity afforded by their passports is to look at the percentage share of global GDP accessible to them visa-free. Our latest research into how much global economic access each passport provides is a useful tool for investors and gives new insight into the ever-widening inequality and wealth disparity that defines our world.”
Direct link between passport strength and economic power
On a macro level, the new study by Henley & Partners reveals that just 6% of passports worldwide give their holders visa-free access to more than 70% of the global economy. And only 17% of countries give their passport holders visa-free access to more than four-fifths of the world’s 227 destinations.ADVERTISEMENTThe Japanese passport gives visa-free access to 85% of the world and, collectively, these countries account for a whopping 98% of the global economy (Japan’s own GDP contribution is around 5%). In contrast, the Nigerian passport at the lower end of the index provides visa-free access to only 46 destinations (20% of the world), which account for just 1.5% of global GDP. The lowest ranked Afghanistan passport provides visa-free access to just 12% of the world and less than 1% of global economic output.
Dr. Areef Suleman, Director of Economic Research and Statistics at the Islamic Development Bank Institute, says cross-country visa-free access to more stable economies helps investors mitigate country- or jurisdiction-specific risks. “In general, greater access to the world’s economic output is advantageous as it expands the basket of products available to any individual. While this is also attainable through international trade, the options with physical access are far greater, extending to the use of services that are non-exportable such as better-quality education and healthcare.”
In terms of percentage of global GDP, the US and China have the lion’s share, with 25% and 19%, respectively, but American passport holders can access a further 43% of the world’s economic output visa-free, bringing their total to 68%, whereas Chinese passport holders can access only an additional 7% visa-free, taking their total to just 26% of global GDP.
Looking at another set of comparisons, South Korea and Russia have similar national GDPs of around 1.9% of global economic output. However, South Korea has a visa-free score of 192, giving its passport holders access to 81% of global GDP, while Russia has a score of just 118, providing its passport holders with access to only 19% of the world’s economy. India fares even worse, despite having the world’s fifth-largest economy: its passport holders can access just 59 destinations worldwide and only 6.8% of global GDP, of which the country’s own GDP accounts for around half.
Prof. Trevor Williams, former chief economist at Lloyd’s Bank Commercial Banking, says the research proves the causal relationship between the ability to travel, foreign investment in a country, increased trade, and economic growth. “These links are mutually reinforcing and agglomerative. Skills and talent go where there is the ability to work, invest, and travel, attracting others wishing to do the same and creating a positive loop.”
The war in Ukraine: shockwaves continue
The Ukraine war is yet to have a significant impact on the Henley Passport Index scores of Russia and Ukraine, with both countries retaining roughly the same position ‘on paper’ since the invasion nearly a year ago. Russia is currently ranked 49th with a score of 118, while Ukraine sits 13 places above, ranking 36th with a score of 144. However, due to airspace closures and sanctions, Russian citizens are effectively barred from traveling throughout most of the developed world, with the marked exceptions of the UAE and Türkiye, which have become focal points.
Ukrainians, on the other hand, have been granted the right to live and work in the EU for up to three years under an emergency plan in response to what has become Europe’s biggest refugee crisis this century. Already one of the biggest climbers on the Henley Passport Index, moving up 24 places over the past decade, Ukraine would likely break into the Top Ten most powerful passports in the world if it were to join the EU. Negotiations for membership are due to begin in earnest in the next few months after the EU approved Ukraine’s application for EU candidate status in record time last June.
Leading financial journalist and author, Misha Glenny, says it’s hard to overestimate how the continuing conflict will dictate global politics and the economy throughout 2023. “It’s a brutal ground war in which one combatant possesses more nuclear warheads than any other country on the planet. The Russian and Ukrainian economies exert a huge influence over two vital sectors of the global economy — energy and agriculture. This has been reflected in steep price rises, turning a manageable inflationary struggle into a dangerous one.”
While Asian countries still dominate the very top of the index, the growing passport strength of Gulf states has been identified as a key trend in the coming year. The UAE has climbed an astonishing 49 places over the past 10 years. Ranking 64th in 2013, with a visa-free score of just 72, the UAE now sits in 15th place, with a score of 178 and access to nearly 70% of global GDP. Analysts anticipate that Kuwait and Qatar will sign a visa-free deal with the EU this year — a move that will dramatically enhance their Henley Passport Index scores.

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The Japan Tourism Agency will restart its domestic travel discount program on a smaller scale starting Tuesday after a suspension during the year-end and New Year holidays.The move is part of efforts to support the domestic tourism industry, which has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The maximum discount to be awarded per tourist, per night will be lowered from ¥11,000 to ¥7,000, including shopping coupons that can be used at places such as restaurants.
Users of the program will be required to show proof of having received a booster shot for COVID-19 or a negative test result.
Each prefecture will decide when to terminate the program in light of financial funding provided by the central government. The resources will be available at least until the end of March, according to the agency.
The discount rate for travel will be reduced from 40% to 20%, while the ceiling on the discount amount will be lowered from ¥8,000 to ¥5,000 a night per tourist for tour packages that include public transportation services and from ¥5,000 to ¥3,000 for hotel stays only and single-day trips.ADVERTISEMENTShopping coupons to be provided as part of the program will be issued in electronic form in principle. The amount issued in coupons will be cut from ¥3,000 to ¥2,000 for weekdays and remain at ¥1,000 for weekends and holidays.
“Reviving tourism demand is very important to revitalize the economy,” tourism minister Tetsuo Saito told a news conference Friday. “We want people to travel in Japan while taking basic COVID-19 precautions.”
Source: Japan Times

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