Backpackers visiting Japan look set to benefit from plans to create cross-municipality tourist zones.
The plans, to be submitted by the construction and transport ministry during this Diet session, will integrate adjoining areas to ease regulations and subsidies, reports the Daily Yomiuri.
This looks likely to increase the number and greater combinations of tour packages that were previously losing some tourist areas money because of the popularity of short trips.
Under the plans, operators will now be able to offer longer tours while taking advantage of a 40 per cent government subsidy.
This would also be accompanied by exceptions to laws that will simplify travel procedures and create the potential for discounted travel tickets.
Meanwhile, as part of the bid to boost the country's tourist intake to ten million by 2010, Japanese tour operators have been offering discounted tours and freebies during its Welcome Japan Weeks.
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