Major change for tourists visiting Japan

Japan has revealed it will introduce a new travel requirement for anyone - including Aussies - who plan to visit the popular country.

Japan is set to launch a new system that requires international travellers, including Aussies, to fill out an online form, similar to US’ ESTA visa, before entry.

Japan is set to launch a new system that requires international travellers, including Aussies, to fill out an online form, similar to the ESTA visa before entry to the United States.

The Japanese government is set to introduce the new travel requirement, tentatively named JESTA, in 2030.

It will operate similarly to the US’ Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which aims to reduce the number of illegal immigrants who come to Japan from visa-exempt countries and regions.

The Japanese government has announced plans to introduce a new travel formthat will require visitors to declare personal information online.

Australia and New Zealand are among the 71 visa-exempt countries that will need to declare their personal details using JESTA — once it is launched.

While ESTA was originally introduced to combat possible security threats to the US, Japan’s new process aims to curb the number of visitors from visa-exempt nations who stay longer than they are permitted, which ranges from 14-90 days, the Sankei Shinbun reported.

The Japanese government says tourists will need to declare their purpose of entry and place of stay before travelling. If they are then flagged as a risk, they may be denied entry and required to obtain a formal visa.

The cost of the JESTA is yet to be disclosed.

The major change will affect travellers from all countries which currently enjoy visa-free status, including Aussies and Kiwis.

New data released by Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) shows the number of Aussies visiting Japan between January to March this year increased by 46.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2019, with visitors in March alone up a staggering 87.4 per cent compared to March 2019.

A key reason has been the historic low Japanese yen.

Japan has been rising in popularity with the historically low Japanese yen playing a huge role.

“The AUD is purchasing much more JPY now compared to the lows we saw in the years leading up to the pandemic pause, and this favourable exchange rate makes Japan more affordable and accessible for Australian travellers,” JNTO Sydney Office executive director Naoki Kitazawa said ion April.

According to Flight Centre, travel bookings for March were up 56 per cent on last year, February bookings were up 54 per cent and January bookings were up 65 per cent.

The company’s global managing director Andrew Stark described it as a “seasonal boom” as more Aussies head to the country amid a drop in airfares.

“The interest follows considerable reductions in airfares to many international destinations, with tickets from Australia to Japan sold through Flight Centre in February and March up to 21 per cent cheaper this year than last,” he said.

JNTO expects the positive trend to continue in 2024, with more Aussies looking to travel outside of the peak seasons and seeking lesser-known destinations across the country.