Conference. Also, meetings for business negotiations participated by cruise shipping companies, port administrators, and the like were held and the establishment of the notification system for temporary tax-free shops at cruise piers was promoted. As the result of these efforts, the era of welcoming 1 million foreign visitors by cruise ships was achieved five years ahead of the plan.

## (7) Promotion for receiving more Muslim travelers

In order to promote visits from Islamic countries to Japan, the guidebook for welcoming Muslims was published in August 2015 and support was provided to initiatives of regions motivated to receive Muslim travelers.

Other initiatives taken include expediting and facilitating the procedural flow of immigration at airports and ports toward improved CIQ, enhancing the means of secondary transportation, improving the payment environment, such as promoting the installation of ATMs where credit cards issued overseas can be used, and encouraging Hands-Free Travel for inbound foreign tourists by introducing logo marks indicating the Hands-Free Travel service bases and

expansion of service bases utilizing the marks, and strengthening information provision to inbound foreign travelers at times of disaster event.

Also, regional outposts of the MLIT led efforts to resolve specific regional issues at the Tourism strategy meeting in each regional block toward receiving 20 million inbound foreign tourists (established in March 2015) in enhancing the structure to receive the surging number of inbound foreign tourists.

## 5 Attracting Foreign Business guests and Others, High Quality Tourism Exchanges

## (1) Attracting foreign business guests

In order to expedite immigration procedures for participants in international conferences and important business travelers, fast lanes were set up at Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport in March 2016 as a starter. Furthermore, necessary preparations and examinations are underway for the implementation of a system within 2016 for identifying frequent foreign visitors to Japan with low immigration control risk as trusted travelers and make them subject to automation gates. Also, the environment for receiving business jets was improved by, among other measures, advancing the monthly application deadline and finalization date for flight schedules at Haneda Airport (advanced by five days) and increasing the spots where business jets are available at Narita Airport.

## (2) Increasing international competitiveness in the area of MICE such as international conferences

In order to actively invite international conferences and other MICE events Note , (i) five cities were newly selected and received support as global MICE cities that can win tough competitions with overseas competitors; (ii) persons who have influence over academic conferences and the like inside and outside Japan and are engaged in specific projects to invite international conferences are certified as MICE Ambassadors; and (iii) use of unique venues that provide the sense of specialness and regional characteristics,

such as by holding meetings and receptions at historical buildings and public spaces, were promoted. Also, by using the MICE brand Japan. Meetings & Events, efforts were made to increase recognition among overseas hosts at such occasions as overseas MICE trade fairs.