the travel time between the city center and either of the airports to less than 40 minutes by improving rail access through the use of the Narita New High-Speed Railway.

## (Constructing ports and harbors to serve as nerve centers superior to other major port facilities in Asia in terms of costs and services)

The ministry pushes forward the improvement of next-generation, high-standard container terminals and the development of coastal physical distribution bases, and also promotes the comprehensive intensive reform program of container-based physical distribution centered on Super-hub Ports, so as to formulate seamless physical distribution networks connecting both domestic and overseas destinations.

## (Streamlining physical distribution, and invigorating areas surrounding airports, ports and harbors)

The ministry supports efforts among physical distribution transport operators, cargo owners and municipalities aimed at streamlining physical distribution in a local community or an urban area where physical distribution facilities converge, such as airports, ports and harbors.

In addition, in order to revitalize regions surrounding airports, ports and harbors, the ministry facilitates the development of transit tours that make better use of lay-over times at airports and of other local tourism promoting measures; the promotion of distribution of community-based specialty goods; and the enhancement of airport functions, including the upgrading of airport terminal functions. The ministry also promotes the improvement of multi-purpose international terminals at ports and harbors, and the formulation of coastal industrial areas aimed at reinforcing ties between waterfront industries and port facilities, so as to promote the establishment of industries and capital investment at waterfront areas and the creation of job opportunities and income opportunities.

## (b) Promoting Japan as a tourism-oriented country

## (Creating internationally-competitive and attractive tourist destinations and fostering human resources capable of contributing to tourism)

In order to establish self-reliant local economies through an increasing population who interact through tourism, the ministry comprehensively supports the efforts of a variety of local parties concerned, including efforts to develop experience programs making use of tourism resources and efforts to improve accommodation services. In this way, the ministry aims to increase the number of days tourists spend at tourist destinations and the frequency of overnight tours of visitors from both Japan and overseas, so as to develop and improve tourist attractions for extended stays of two nights or more.

In addition, the ministry supports “tourism charisma schools,” regional measures to foster tourism-related human resources and other measures for human resource development to promote tourism, so as to establish a mechanism which makes Japan’s tourism industry more sustainable and promising.

## (Expanding international tourism exchange)

In order to attract 10 million tourists from overseas a year by 2010, the ministry is engaged in publishing Japan’s attractive points and improving the degree of satisfaction of visitors to Japan from overseas, as a part of Visit Japan Upgrade Project activities. In addition, the ministry works to attract and hold international conferences. The ministry also proceeds with a strategy that aims at attracting 20 million foreign visitors a year by 2020.

## (Improving environment for sightseeing tours)

In order to promote the development and distribution of new forms of tour products, including eco-tourism, health tourism and industrial tourism, the ministry works to popularize and cultivate “new tourism” by formulating manuals aimed at marketing new tourism tour products.

In addition, the ministry implements, in a demonstrative way, specific measures contributing solutions to a number of problems, such as the equalization of tourism demand and the creation of environments that encourage people to go on vacation.