Visa launches Promotions for Cardholders Visiting Japan

Visa cardholders looking to experience the wonders of Japan will be able to enjoy special discounts and privileges when they use their Visa card. Visa has extended its “Experience Tokyo with Visa” program, and has launched a new “Haneda Airport Japan Duty Free Campaign 2008” in which Visa cardholders can enjoy special discounts at Haneda Airport’s duty-free shops.

The “Experience Tokyo with Visa” program, which will run through to 30 June 2009, updates the ‘Experience Tokyo with Visa 2007’ program with new merchants and enhanced offers in the Tokyo metropolitan area. As part of the upgraded program, Visa cardholders visiting Japan can receive a range of gifts or discounts by showing coupons and paying with their Visa cards at 51 selected merchants. These include discounts at Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera stores and special gifts from department stores including Marui and Odakyu (in Tokyo’s world-famous Shinjuku entertainment area).

The program flyer, complete with coupons, can be obtained at a variety of locations including travel counters, hotel lobbies, and participating merchants. Travelers can also get downloadable PDF coupons from Visa’s website. The coupons are available in English, Korean, traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese.

The “Haneda Airport Japan Duty Free Campaign 2008”, which will run from 1 August to 31 October 2008, is the first campaign for Visa and Haneda Airport. Overseas Visa cardholders can receive a 1,000 yen discount with a minimum purchase of 8,000 yen at Japan Duty Free shops, located on the 2nd floor of the international terminal at Haneda Airport, when they use the Visit Japan with Visa coupon and pay with their Visa card. To enjoy this benefit, customers need to print out and bring along the PDF coupon downloaded from the Visa Japan website. The coupon is available in English, Korean, as well as traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese characters.

Haneda's international terminal currently handles daily scheduled charter flights between Haneda and central airports in three other Asian cities - Seoul (Kimpo), Shanghai (Hongqiao), and Hong Kong (International) - as well as other charter flights during the late night and early morning hours when Narita Airport is closed. The Haneda and Beijing charter services will begin this August.

Since the Japanese government initiated the “Visit Japan Campaign” in 2003, the number of foreign visitors to Japan has increased steadily and surpassed 8.3 million in 2007. The government aims to attract 10 million foreign tourists annually to Japan by 2010, aiming at raising Japan’s profile as a tourist destination.

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