In the third quarter Henley Passport Index, Japan tied with South Korea for second place, with visa-free access to 192 destinations. However, despite this travel freedom, only 17.5% of Japanese citizens currently hold a passport. This reflects a growing trend among young people in Japan: prioritizing domestic travel over international trips. This finding was published in a mid-year study by the travel app Newt. By comparison, 40% of South Korean and 50% of American citizens have passports.

Hiroshi Tanimura, CEO of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and head of its international tourism division, attributes this decline to several factors, including the weak yen, high airfares, and safety concerns at many international destinations.

Japanese tourists take photos in Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Reuters

Japanese tourists take photos in Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Reuters

"The weak yen is a major reason why outbound tourism is only at 70% of pre-pandemic levels," Tanimura said.

Ashley Harvey, a travel marketing expert with over 15 years of experience in Japan, notes that the decline in passport holders began after the travel boom of the 1990s. 10 years ago, the rate was still 23%. The pandemic was a turning point, according to Harvey. It made many people appreciate the safety and comfort of Japan, leading them not to renew their passports upon expiry.

The recent 35% devaluation of the yen has made international travel a luxury for many middle-income Japanese.

However, nearby destinations like South Korea and Taiwan, served by budget airlines, remain popular among Japanese travelers due to their affordability and short travel times. Attracting Japanese tourists back to more distant destinations like Europe or North America is expected to be challenging.

JATA is actively promoting international destinations, including Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and even Turkey, which attracted a large number of Japanese tourists this past summer.

Japan's population currently stands at 123 million, with about 21 million holding passports. In the first six months of the year, Japan was the 5th largest source market for tourists to Vietnam with nearly 393,000 arrivals, following mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan, and the US.

"Work is too busy and prices are rising, so I'm only planning a short trip to Hiroshima with my family this summer," Tanimura said.

Anh Minh (SCMP)