Section 3 Eliminating Language Barriers (Easily Accessible Transportation for Foreigners)

1. Problems Involving Acceptance of Increasing Number of Foreign Visitors

　　 　The number of foreign visitors to Japan exceeded four million in 1997. But this number is still lower than in other countries. The "Welcome Plan 21" is designed to improve arrangements for the acceptance of foreign visitors to double their number in 10 years (Figure 31).
　　 　In pursuit of public transportation that is easy for everybody to use, Japan must make it easier for the growing number of foreign visitors to use public transportation. In this respect, the Ministry of Transport is planning to promote both hardware and software measures to eliminate language barriers.

2. Efforts to Allow Foreigners to Get Around by Themselves

　　 　A survey on the difficulties and problems facing foreign visitors to Japan has found that mainly individual tourists have cited language barriers in conversations, lack of English signs, etc.
　　 　Measures are being taken to allow foreigners to get around by themselves in town. Roman letters, English versions of information (plus Chinese and Korean versions in Kyushu) and pictograms are displayed on information boards at railway stations and other transportation terminals. In train cars, English announcements are made available. Facilities and measures are readied to give foreigners easily understandable information. Japan's first tourist information centers for foreigners have been opened by the JNTO in Tokyo and Kyoto. In addition, local governments and tourist associations have established a total of 93 "i" network tourist information offices (Figure 32).

　　 　Japan is now required to construct advanced systems for tourist information services both at home and abroad, which can effectively attract foreign visitors, stimulate tourism demand and help revitalize local communities.
　　 　Japan has introduced the regional guide business system to increase guides/interpreters for foreigners in local areas under the Law to Promote Inbound International Tourism by Diversifying Destinations in Japan. A special interpreter/tourist guide license for the Kyushu area was issued in 1998.
　　 　In efforts to reduce t traveling expenses for foreign visitors, airlines and railway companies are introducing discount fares for domestic transportation for foreigners and local governments are issuing "Welcome Cards" for foreigners (Table 33).