Las Vegas Tourism Down 11%

Above, the Las Vegas Strip in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Las Vegas appears to be losing its appeal. 

Visitation and hotel bookings are down. Some say this is a harbinger of a looming recession. 

The reason is obvious. Las Vegas is no longer the top place to gamble. Casinos are sprouting up in several states, mainly on Native Americans lands.

Las Vegas hotels are not cheap anymore. They used to be affordable. Hotels charging resort fees are also turn-offs to people.  Food is also more expensive. There was a time when great deals at restaurants could be easily found. Frankly, Las Vegas was more affordable and a lot more fun when the mob was running it.

According to Travel and Tour World:

Las Vegas is experiencing a significant downturn in tourism due to a combination of rising hotel prices and growing concerns over bedbug infestations. The city’s once-thriving tourism industry is being hit hard as visitors are deterred by the increasing costs of accommodations and reports of uncomfortable pest-related experiences at major resorts. As a result, many tourists are choosing to stay away, opting for alternative destinations that offer better value and peace of mind. This decline in visitors is further compounded by the negative impact on the city’s reputation, leaving hotel owners and businesses struggling to adapt to these new challenges.

Las Vegas is facing a significant downturn in tourism, with new figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) revealing a sharp drop in visitor numbers this summer. June saw only 3.1 million tourists, a marked 11.3 percent decline compared to the same month last year. This decrease is contributing to wider challenges within the local travel industry.

The bedbug infestation is another major crimp. Who wants to get married in Las Vegas and spend the honeymoon night with bedbugs?

To read more, go here.

Traveling to Japan This Summer Just Got Easier

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios in Setagaya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tourism to Japan has been booming since the restrictions on travel there during the pandemic were lifted.

This boom has been fed in part by the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen.

According to Travel + Leisure, travel to Japan will be getting easier this summer.  

They posted:

Japan Airlines is dramatically increasing flight connections to the U.S. for the summer, which means getting to Japan will be easier than ever. 

Starting May 31, 2025, Japan Airlines will launch a direct flight connecting Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). This will be a codeshare flight with Oneworld Alliance partner American Airlines. Tickets go on sale on February 12, and the flight is expected to last roughly 12 hours. 

To help meet demand between Japan and North America, Japan Airlines is ramping up connectivity to several West Coast hubs throughout the summer: 

• Tokyo Narita (NRT) to San Diego (SAN): Daily from March 30 to October 25
• Osaka (KIX) to Los Angeles (LAX): Daily from July 18 to October 25
• Osaka (KIX) to Honolulu (HNL): Daily from July 18 to October 25
• Nagoya (NGO) to Honolulu (HNL): Daily from July 18 to October 15
• Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Honolulu (HNL): Twice-daily during July

To read more, go here.

Mexico Passes $42 Immigration Tax for Cruise Passengers

There's nothing like being welcomed as a tourist to a foreign country. Unless, of course, that country wants to charge tourists an immigration levy who arrive aboard a cruise ship.

According to AP News:

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Cruise ship industry players are up in arms after the lower house of Mexico’s Congress voted this week to charge a $42 immigration levy for every passenger on cruise ships that dock in Mexico.

Two-thirds of the money raised, moreover, would go to the Mexican army, not to improve port facilities.

The Mexican Association of Shipping Agents cried foul late Thursday, saying the charges could make Mexico uncompetitively expensive for cruise ships.

In the past, cruise ship passengers had been exempted from the immigration fee, because they sleep aboard the vessels and some don’t even get off the ship during port calls. They would apparently be charged the $42 fee anyway, according to the new budget law.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Visitors Set New Spending Record

Above, the Hozomon Gate at Asakusa's Senso-ji temple. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Thanks to the weak Japanese yen, tourist spending in Japan has reached record levels. 

Reuters reported:

TOKYO, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Visitor spending in Japan broke an annual record in just nine months, official data showed on Wednesday, demonstrating the economic power of a tourism boom fuelled by the weak yen.

Travellers spent 5.86 trillion yen ($39.27 billion) through September, preliminary figures from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed. That eclipsed the 5.3 trillion yen spent in all of 2023, a record for any 12-month period.

The current exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen is 1 USD = 149.92 JPY.

To read more, go here. 

Construction of UFO RV Resort To Start In Roswell

Above, a new RV park will join Trailer Village RV Park in Roswell. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When we visited Roswell, New Mexico in July 2018 for the UFO Festival, we stayed at the Trailer Village RV Park.

Like many other Roswell businesses, the RV park had alien figures on the property along with souvenirs. The town's McDonalds restaurant is even designed to look like a flying saucer.

As things often happen, a new business capitalizing on UFO tourism is about to start construction in the town, UFO RV Resort. Yes, that's going to be the park's name.

KOB Channel 4 reported:

ROSWELL, N.M. — The City of Roswell is working to address its housing shortage while also boosting the tourism industry with an RV park.

The UFO RV Resort will be off Second Street — the perfect spot for both tourists and residents looking for a permanent spot for their RV. The owner of the property, along with city leaders, gathered at the site earlier this week to start construction on the project.

To read more, go here. 

Foreign Visitors To Japan Double In November

Above, a night view of the Tokyo Skytree from Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's tourist numbers are climbing during the past two months since restrictions on foreign visitors have been lifted. 

The numbers for November almost doubled over the October numbers.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

With the scrapping of most COVID-19 entry restrictions in October, the number of foreign visitors to Japan jumped to nearly 1 million in November, according to government data.

The number was about 1.9 times more than the previous month. 

Around 730,000 of the 934,500 people who arrived from overseas in November were tourists.

The figure was about 2.5 times higher than October, according to preliminary figures released by
the Japan National Tourism Organization on Dec. 21.

Visitors from South Korea were the largest at 315,400, accounting for one-third of all foreign arrivals. The number is about 1.5 times the figure in November 2019 before the pandemic.

That was followed by Taiwan at 99,500, the United States at 84,300 and Hong Kong at 83,000, according to the tourism organization.

The overall number of foreign visitors in November, however, represents only a little less than 40 percent of the 2,441,274 arrivals in Japan in the same month in 2019.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo: 15 Amazing Reasons To Visit Now

Above, a view of the Sumida River and Asakusa from the Tokyo Skytree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At long last, Japan is fully reopening to foreign tourism on October 11. 

With this announcement, a huge surge in reservations for flights and hotel rooms took place around the world.

In view of the reopening, Time Out has a list of 15 "amazing reasons" for visiting Tokyo now.

The begin with:

At long last, Japan is finally reopening to the world on October 11, and we couldn’t be more excited. With travel resuming just in time for the autumn and winter seasons, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Besides Tokyo's many seasonal events, the city has welcomed a host of exciting new attractions which the world has yet to see or experience – you know, because of Covid border closures. 

So if you need more reasons to come visit Tokyo besides Japan’s grand reopening (no PCR tests, no quarantine and no travel agency) after being closed off for the past two-plus years, here are 15 irrefutable reasons you should travel to Tokyo right now. Even if you’re no stranger to our beloved city, there’s still plenty of new things waiting for you right here.

We can’t wait to welcome you back. Let the countdown begin.

To see what they are, go here. 

Japan: Surge In Tourists Unlikely With Visa

Above, Narita Airport departure counter. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If the Japanese government thought that their latest actions on foreign tourism would be a big boost to tourism, they were sadly mistaken.

The Asahi Shimbun reported (some snippets):

Entry restrictions on foreign tourists were further relaxed on Sept. 7, but a sudden surge in such visitors is not expected because some unpopular border rules still apply.

The government now allows small groups of tourists to arrive in Japan without a guide, but individuals must arrange their visits through a travel agency.

Moreover, all tourists still must obtain visas before entering Japan.

Restrictions abroad have also reduced the number of tourists to Japan.

But a source at another travel agency said a surge in trips to Japan will come only after the visa requirement is lifted.

The limited number of direct flights to and from Japan has led to one-way tickets costing about 300,000 yen ($2,080). But Wang said many inquiries were still being made about possible trips to Japan.

The rule banning individual tourists from arranging their own trips also remains a huge barrier.

To read the full article, go here. 

Only 8,000 Foreign Tourists Visit Japan In June, July

Above, the Asakusa Temple pagoda. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's "reopening" to foreign tourism still remains a dud.

Foreign tourists can visit the country only in group tours with several requirements such as obtaining a visa and showing negative PCR test results.. That policy is going over like a lead balloon in many people's eyes.

NHK World reported:

Japan's Immigration Services Agency says only about 8,000 foreign tourists arrived in June and July.

The country eased its anti-coronavirus border controls and reopened to foreign holidaymakers on June 10 for the first time in about two years.

The number of arrivals is capped at 20,000 per day.

Tourists from 102 countries and territories including the United States, South Korea and China are allowed to come, but only in group tours.

 To read more, go here.

Only 1,500 Foreign Tourists Visit Japan

Above, Godzilla in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's method of reopening to foreign tourists turned out to be a dud. Only 1,500 foreign tourists showed up in the month since reopening.

The time-consuming process of getting a visa and joining an organized group tour along with having negative PCR test results are cited as the reasons.

According to NHK World:

Japan's Immigration Services Agency says only about 1,500 foreign tourists entered Japan in the month since the country re-opened to sightseers on June 10.

Japan was effectively closed to foreign tourism for over two years due to the pandemic. Last month, visitors from 98 countries and territories were allowed back in.

The agency says during the month up to July 10, around 484,000 people entered the country in total. The figure translates to 12,000 per day, or about 60 percent of the upper limit of 20,000 that had been set by the government.

Sixty percent of them were Japanese citizens, and most of the foreign nationals who entered the country were business travelers or students. Only about 1,500 of the foreign entrants came for sightseeing.

To read more, go here. 

Kyoto Wants Tourists To Return, Just Not So Many

Above, crowds flock to shops below Kiyomizu-dera before the pandemic. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before the pandemic, Kyoto's residents and businesses had mixed feelings about the hordes of tourists visiting the city.

They loved the spending money that the tourists brought, but didn't much like the huge crowds.

Those feelings are resurfacing again now that foreign tourists are being allowed back into Japan, even though limited to organized group tours.

According to BusinessLIVE:

Kyoto — Poring over the ledger at her more than 230-year-old liquor shop in Kyoto, Yasuko Fujii has mixed feelings about the return of foreign tourists who would crowd the streets of Japan's ancient capital before the pandemic — and buy lots of whisky and wine.

Her ambivalence reflects a broader uncertainty in Japan about welcoming tourist hordes amid fears they could trigger a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, even though a weak yen would be a big draw for tourists and a boon for local businesses.

“From a business standpoint, we want foreign tourists to come,” the 79-year-old Fujii said. “But from an emotional standpoint, we want customers from Japan.”

Millions of tourists from China, South Korea and Southeast Asia used to throng the Nishiki market where Fujii's shop is located before curbs set in two years ago. Locals often felt overwhelmed and many stopped coming, she said.

To read more, go here. 

Japan: Americans Now Need A $28 Visa To Enter

Above, the Rainbow Bridge that spans across Tokyo Bay to Odaiba. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before the pandemic, American travelers to Japan did not have to obtain a visa to enter the country.

All that has changed since the pandemic and Japan is taking baby steps (I refer to them as "Timid Japan" over this) in reopening the country to foreign tourists. 

What else is now required to enter Japan?

From Travel Noire:

Japan is the latest country to ease its borders for at least 98 countries. If you’re heading to Japan from America, you will now need a visa to enter.

Before the pandemic, Americans didn’t pay as they were exempted from leisure travel. But all that has changed and it will cost you $28 for a single visa entry.

And it’s more than obtaining a visa to gain access to the country.

Foreign travelers will also have to obtain private medical insurance that covers medical expenses related to COVID-19. Masks are required, and travelers must be supervised by an organized tour group.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Reopening Causing Confusion

Above, Senso-ji temple in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The reopening of Japan to foreign tourism last Friday should have been a happy occasion.

But, as the following article shows, it has caused confusion and some travel agencies are not at all happy with what Japan requires. The reopening either wasn't fully thought out or it was designed by control freaks.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- As Japan resumed visa procedures to accept foreign tourists last week, travel companies have been thrown into confusion over the lack of communication regarding entry procedures and last-minute COVID-19 guidelines.

The government's sudden moves have generated discontent among many in the travel industry, with some domestic companies pulling out of operating tours for inbound tourists amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on May 26 that Japan would reopen to foreign tourists from last Friday, initially limiting eligible tourism arrivals to guided tours from 98 countries and regions deemed to have the lowest risk of infection.

A main crux of the problem is the visa requirement.

"Overseas agencies had been looking for tour participants on a spur-of-the-moment basis, so they were confused after discovering visas would be required," said the manager of a Japanese company supporting inbound tourism.

Before the pandemic, Japan offered visa-free travel for tourists from 68 countries and regions including the United States, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia.

But border restrictions due to COVID-19 mean that currently "everyone needs a visa," according to the Foreign Ministry.

Many overseas travel agencies were also unaware that, in order to apply for a visa, they first needed to input the traveler's details into Japan's health ministry system, which did not begin operating until midnight Thursday.

There are other restrictions and requirements that Japan is imposing, so much so that people are backing away.

To read the full article, go here. 

Japan Reopens To Package Foreign Tourism

Above, a Mothra mural at Toho Studios in Setagaya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's the day that Japan begins welcoming foreign tourists into the country. Tourists have to enter with organized tourist groups, no individual tourism is allowed.

But, in order to do so, tourists have to wear masks, have insurance and have a visa, which can take weeks to obtain. Thanks to the visa requirement, it will likely take a few weeks before Japan sees tourist groups roaming around.

Fox 31 Denver reports (some snippets):

TOKYO (AP) — Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists and began accepting visa applications, but only for those on guided package tours who are willing to follow mask-wearing and other antivirus measures as the country cautiously tries to balance business and infection worries.

Friday is the first day to start procedures needed for the entry and arrivals are not expected until late June at the earliest, even though airport immigration and quarantine offices stood by for any possible arrivals.

The Japan Tourism Agency says tours are being accepted from 98 countries and regions, including the United States, Britain, China, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore, which are deemed as having low infection risks.

After facing criticism that its strict border controls were xenophobic, Japan began easing restrictions earlier this year. On June 1, it doubled its cap on daily entries to 20,000 people a day, including Japanese citizens, foreign students and some business travelers.

The daily limit will include the package tour participants for the time being, and officials say it will take some time before foreign visitors can come to Japan for free, individual tourism.

It’s unclear how popular the package tours options will be with foreign tourists, most of whom have to apply for tourist visas that can take weeks to obtain. But the yen is trading at 20-year lows against the U.S. dollar and weak against other major currencies, which would make traveling in the high-cost country something of a bargain.

To read the full article, go here. 

Japan To Ask Foreign Tourists To Wear Masks and Get Insurance

Above, the good ol' days before the pandemic at Toho Studios in Setagaya.

Here's the old "good news, bad news" thing rearing its ugly head.

The good news is that foreign tourists can travel to Japan (with a group tour) again starting Friday. But the bad news is that they will have to follow guidelines of such things as wearing masks and taking out insurance.

Kyodo News reported:

The government said Tuesday it will ask foreign tourists to wear face masks and take out insurance to cover medical expenses in the event they contract COVID-19 as Japan restarts accepting visitors in stages later this week.

The tourism ministry has compiled guidelines for travel agencies and hotels ahead of Friday's resumption of accepting arrivals for the purpose of tourism. Entry will be initially restricted to guided tours from 98 countries and regions presenting the lowest risk of infection, including the United States, Britain, China, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand.

"Understanding of the guidelines and compliance will lead to the smooth resumption of inbound tourism and its expansion," Tetsuo Saito, minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, told a press conference.

Under the guidelines, travel agencies will gain the consent of tour participants to comply with the measures by explaining upon sales or reservation of tours that they will not be penalized for failing to comply but may not be able to take part in tours.

To read more, go here. 

18 Fascinating Facts About Japan

Above, a nighttime view of the Asakusa section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As Japan is about to open up again to foreign tourism (on June 10), except one has to be a part of an organized group tour to do so, it is worth taking a look at some interesting facts about the country.

This is from a Brit in an article in BuzzFeed who remembers a pre-COVID vacation to Japan. He brings up 18 fascinating facts about Japan that he observed.

He begins with:

Hi, I'm Sam, and I'm a Brit living in London. I love to travel, and I've ALWAYS wanted to go to Japan!

Back in early 2019, I FINALLY got to visit Tokyo, which was my last vacay before the world went to shit. While I was there, I noticed a ton of things that were either unusual, weirdly practical, or just plain amazing to me.

I've cast my mind back to my pre-Covid trip, and put together a list of casual observations about Japan/Tokyo that I thought were worth mentioning.

To read more, go here.

Hawaii Responsible Traveling Multimedia Campaign

Above, a crescent moon over the Big Island. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has rolled out a multimedia campaign to encourage responsible travel to the islands.

According to Hawaii Public Radio:

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is rolling out an extensive multimedia campaign to educate travelers coming to the islands.

The initiative is part of the HTA’s effort to improve tourism management throughout the state.

The campaign includes educational videos and safety messages that will be shown online, on airlines, at local airports and in hotels.

HTA Chief Brand Officer Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā says the overall theme of the messages is Mālama Hawaiʻi, encouraging good stewardship and responsible behavior.

The above article includes a video titled, "Hawai'i Is Our Home".

To read more and see the video, go here. 

Hawaii Sees Accelerated Tourism Recovery

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some numbers are in with regard to Hawaii's tourism recovery.

It appears that the recovery is accelerating as weeks go on after reopening to tourists according to TravelPulse.

TravelPulse begins with:

Hawaii's post-pandemic recovery was accelerated this spring as the islands hosted 818,268 visitors in April. The figure represents a 96.3 percent recovery from April 2019 nearly one year prior to the onset of the COVID-19 crisis and the highest recovery rate since the start of the pandemic in Hawaii.

According to other preliminary visitor statistics released by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) on Thursday, visitors spent $1.6 billion in the islands last month, which is an increase of 21 percent compared to the $1.32 billion reported for April 2019.

A majority of Hawaii's April visitors arrived by air from the U.S. West (514,878) or the U.S. East (188,868).

To read more, go here. 

Japan: Accepting Tour Groups June 10

Above, a view from Tokyo City View in Roppongi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nikkei Asia just reported that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a resumption of tourism:

TOKYO -- Japan will reopen its borders to international tourists on June 10, starting with tour groups, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Thursday.

To read more, go here. 

Additionally, Time Out Tokyo posted:

Despite many setbacks, Japan has started to slowly resume travel and tourism. This month, a limited number of foreign tourists were allowed to enter on a trial basis and more border restrictions are set to ease further from June 1. 

As reported by The Yomiuri Shimbun, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced tonight (Thursday May 26) that Japan will now allow foreign tourists to enter the country via package tours from Friday June 10, ahead of a full resumption of inbound tourism. Additionally, international flights will be expanded to cover Sapporo's New Chitose Airport and Okinawa's Naha Airport. 

To read more, go here.

Japan To Allow Package Tours Starting June 6

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in Setagaya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following from the Japan Times may or may not be speculation, but if it is correct, it looks like the planned G-TOUR for this fall qualifies. 

The prime minister is to make the announcement (unless he already has) sometime today.

According to the Japan Times:

The government will allow foreign tourists to enter Japan on package tours from June 6, TV Asahi reported late Wednesday, paving the way for the full resumption of inbound tourism, which has been suspended for more than two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to make the announcement as early as Thursday.

The expected move comes after Japan began a trial of package tours involving foreign tourists on Tuesday. The visitors need to be vaccinated three times, including a booster shot, to participate in the tours, which each consist of a small number of people.

Japan is currently the only Group of Seven country still refusing to allow the normal entry of foreign tourists.

I do wonder, if this is correct, how many in package tour will they allow in? "Small number", what do they mean by that?

To read more, go here. 

UPDATE:

Tour groups will be allowed into Japan on June 10, it has been announced.