Japan: 10,000 Free Flights For Foreigners- Not Approved

[MichaelW Travels]

I was really psyched when I heard back in October about Japan possibly giving out 10,000 free flights to help with the economy and tourism industry... I read earlier that the Japan Tourism Agency announced that this program was not approved as part of the government draft budget for 2012.

I made a post about this which you can read at
MichaelW Travels...: Japan: 10,000 Free Flights For Foreigners- Not Approved

I wonder how many members planned to apply for this program???

 

[wingspan]

While the free flight would have been amazing, I do feel the statement by the Japan National Tourism Organization is fair:

We realise that this announcement is going to disappoint thousands of people around the world, but we hope people will understand how insensitive it would appear for the Japanese Government to give people free flights to Japan when the cities, towns and villages devastated by the tsunami are still in desperate need of funding for reconstruction. We also would not want people thinking that the generous donations given from around the world to aide those affected by the disaster was being spent on giving people free flights.

 

[MichaelW Travels]

While the free flight would have been amazing, I do feel the statement by the Japan National Tourism Organization is fair:

I totally agree with you.

To me it is just a bit odd how this potential offer was released to the public before being approved, gained worldwide media coverage to only be shot down less than 3 months later.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Poor public administration.......happens everywhere.