Japan is ready to offer 10,000 free airfares for overseas tourists to visit the country next year.
In an attempt to boost the tourism industry hit by the nuclear disaster following the March tsunami, the Japan Tourism Agency plans to ask would-be travellers to submit online applications for the free flights, detailing which areas of the country they would like to visit, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said.
The agency will select the successful entrants and ask them to write a report about their trip which will be published on the Internet.
Tourism authorities hope that positive reports from travellers about their experiences in Japan will help ease international worries about visiting the country, the newspaper said.
AFP said the programme, which will require travellers to cover other costs such as accommodation, is expected to start from next April, subject to government budgetary approval.
