Travellers headed to Japan this summer can apply for free flights to other destinations around the country. Tokyo-based Japan Airlines (JAL) will begin accepting applications for 50,000 free round-trip tickets from February 2020. The initiative is supported by Japan’s Tourism Agency and the Japan National Tourism Organisation as a way to encourage visitors coming to the country for the 2020 Summer Olympics to explore more than just the tourist hot-spots such as Tokyo and Kyoto. Travellers will have to be ready for an adventure as the free round-trip flight will be to a surprise destination. When applying, visitors will be able to select from four places across the country. However, travellers won't be told until three days before travel which destination they will be flying to. Applications can be submitted in groups of up to four people and there will be a choice of departure and arrival times. JAL will also give travellers information on sightseeing, tours and local attractions in the destination selected to make trip-planning smoother. Information regarding accommodation is yet to be released. All 50,000 free tickets will depart from Tokyo Haneda Airport or Osaka, and the trips need to take place between July and September. To qualify, travellers need to be registered in JAL's airline loyalty programme and hold a passport issued by a country other than Japan. Japanese passport holders that have permanent residence in another country can also apply to see more of their home country. When boarding the free flights, travellers will be asked for proof that they visited Japan during the summer period. Interested travellers can find out more <a href="https://www.jal.co.jp/en/jmb/japan-promotion/">online</a>. Tourism is booming in Japan. In 2018, over 31 million international travellers visited the country according to data from Tourism Japan. Visitors that miss out on the free flights can still enjoy a variety of other offers to celebrate Japan hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics. These include discounted flights on selected international and domestic routes, cashback offers on shopping, half-price luggage storage services and lower entrance fees at historical attractions such as samurai heritage towns.
