A number of transport operators in Japan are improving their Wi-Fi offering in a bid to attract more foreign tourists.
According to japandailypress.com, a survey in 2011 by the Japan Tourism Industry revealed that 24 per cent of tourists visiting the country said the most inconvenient part of their stay was the lack of free Wi-Fi. Since then, Japan has been working to improve its offerings, especially in tourist hotspots.
In the summer of 2012, Japan Airlines (JAL) started offering on-board Wi-Fi on a number of its international flights, and this July, the service will be extended to domestic flights. Last month, All Nippon Airways also began offering a Wi-Fi service on-board all international flights, reports the-japan-news.com.
West Japan Railway Co. is planning to rollout Wi-Fi access at 26 railway stations and facilities this Thursday (May 1), whereas East Japan Railway Co. customers can currently log-on at 18 stations, but the majority of these are located in Tokyo.
It is believed that such services will boost foreign tourism, as holidaymakers will be able to post on Facebook or Twitter about where they’re visiting. Moreover, it is important to get as many Wi-Fi hotspots up and running before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, as the country will experience a tourism boom. The more visitors enjoy their stay during this event, the more likely they are to come back again.
