Tokyo
PRIME Minister Shinzo Abe has again doubled the target for the number of inbound tourists that Japan should aim to attract, even as the number of visitors - from Asia, especially - continues to climb and tourism becomes the country's major industry and income-earner.
The original target had been to pull in 20 million overseas visitors a year by 2020, but the Land of Cherry Blossoms achieved that last year, well ahead of time. Mr Abe has thus set a higher target of nearer 40 million by 2020, the year Tokyo hosts the summer Olympic Games.
Following a meeting with other government ministers on Wednesday, he said: "Today, we have decided on a new vision for tourism. It is an important part of...