The Japanese government is set to introduce a new travel authorisation system requiring all international visitors to declare personal information online in order to enter the country.
The new system will operate similarly to the US’ ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which was introduced as an anti-terrorism measure. The Japanese version, tentatively named JESTA, will also screen visitors prior to entry, using a similar online system.
The government plans to launch JESTA by 2030.
The implementation of this new system aims to reduce the number of illegal immigrants who come to Japan from visa-exempt countries and regions. Travellers from the 71 countries will be required to declare their details using JESTA once it is launched.
The 71 visa-exempt countries and regions include Australia, Brunei, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, the UAE, the UK, the US, and more.
JESTA will require visa-exempt foreign nationals to declare their purpose of entry and place of stay online for screening by the Immigration Services Agency before they travel. If the application is flagged as an illegal-stay risk, the travel authorisation required to leave the country will not be granted, and the traveller will be encouraged to obtain a formal visa through their local embassy instead.
The Japanese government will also introduce another system which will run on a trial basis during this fiscal year. Passenger information will be sent to the Immigration Services Agency after boarding procedures have been completed, and will be checked against a list of ‘blacklisted’ travellers, including foreign nationals of interest and those with criminal records. If any, the airline will be notified in order to refuse boarding to those passengers.
More details about JESTA will be provided closer to the launch date.
In his new role, Romandy will oversee all facets of hotel operations, including finance, sales and marketing, and human resources. He will report to Jeffrey van Vorsselen, regional vice president, operations.
BWH Hotels has signed Best Western Premier Sky Hue in Vietnam, which will offer 396 rooms across its two towers that are connected by a rooftop sky deck.
The hotel is slated to open in 2025.
Guests will be able to explore Hue’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed treasures, including the Imperial Citadel, which dates from 1802 and served as the political, administrative and cultural centre of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty until 1945.
“Vietnam is one of our key strategic markets, so the signing of this property in such an iconic destination – the country’s imperial capital city – is a notable milestone. We look forward to welcoming both domestic and international guests to this exceptional new hotel, which blends contemporary facilities with local charm,” said Olivier Berrivin, vice president – APAC, BWH Hotels.