Travel

Japan welcomed 36.8 million visitors in 2024, surpassing the previous record set in 2019. Tourists are drawn to Japan's vibrant culture, from Kyoto's historic temples and shrines to Tokyo's bustling streets. The country's stunning cherry blossoms, traditional tea ceremonies, and world-renowned cuisine, such as sushi and ramen, also enthral visitors. Japan's reputation for technological innovation and unique festivals further enhances its appeal as a top travel destination. The weaker yen reduced the cost of visiting Japan for international tourists. Over the past year, foreign tourists spent 51.78 billion yen ($814 trillion), an increase of 53%. The tourism boom has had a significant economic impact. In terms of earnings, tourism is second only to vehicle exports. Local economies have been revived, jobs have been created, and national employment has increased due to increased spending. Local governments have implemented measures such as increased lodging taxes to deal with the influx and improve infrastructure in response to the surge in arrivals. In 2030, the Japanese government hopes to attract 60 million visitors.

Qantas flights have reportedly faced delays as a result of the possibility of falling debris created by Elon Musk’s Space X spacecraft. Flights between Australia and South Africa have faced ongoing delays over the past weeks following warnings of Space X debris re-entering the atmosphere over parts of the Southern Indian Ocean. The debris is associated with Space X’s first-stage boosters of its smaller Falcon Nine rockets after delivering satellites and crew to orbit. As a result of its remoteness and distance from any landmass, the rocket debris is directed toward the southern Indian Ocean which is a key part of the Qantas A380 flight path from Sydney to Johannesburg. Head of Qantas’ Operation Centre Ben Holland said flights have been delayed based on advice from the U.S. government. "While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches have moved around at late notice which has meant we've had to delay some flights just prior to departure," said Holland. Aerotime obtained recent data from Flightradar24 which shows that flight QF63 has faced several significant delays of more than three hours over recent weeks. "We're in contact with SpaceX to

Melbourne Airport is finalising the details of a major international terminal expansion as passenger numbers soar to record levels. The expansion, which a Melbourne Airport spokesman said would cost about A$4 billion, follows a record 1,147,533 international passengers using the airport in December. Melbourne Airport said the completion of its new elevated road network in 2026 would allow for an expansion of the international check-in and baggage claim halls while discussions continue on an expanded international satellite to lift capacity for airline lounges, retail outlets and passenger waiting areas, and up to five new widebody gates. The Airport is midway through a $500 million project to replace the international baggage system with a new, state-of-the-art tote-based system, which would increase capacity by allowing for any-time check-in and early bag storage. Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the upgrade of the baggage system was the first step of an ambitious expansion of the international terminal with more gates, aircraft parking stands, check-in spaces and a larger baggage reclaim hall. Argus said this work, when combined with the construction of a third runway, would allow airlines to add more flight

The Australian Airports Association (AAA) has called on political parties to support using funds raised by the Passenger Movement Charge tax for airport technology upgrades, ahead of this year’s federal election. The Passenger Movement Charge is a tax of A$70 on passengers flying internationally from Australia. The AAA has asked for an additional 5% of its revenue to be directed to airport and border technology infrastructure. “We want more PMC [Passenger Movement Charge] funds put directly towards their actual purpose to cover the costs associated with border processing at airports,” said AAA CEO Simon Westaway. “It makes clear sense given the record return of international travel conditions and the need to efficiently facilitate the significant future passenger projections at Australian airports.” Around half of the Passenger Movement Charge’s $1.1 billion annual revenue is spent on border processing, according to the AAA. The charge was raised to $70 in July, a $10 increase. The increase added $47.1 million to the biosecurity processing budget, according to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt. A larger proportion of funds raised should go towards digitising incoming passenger cards and incentivising SmartGate usage,