Japanese embassy in China packed w. travel agents

[momopi]

Another reason to be thankful that ya'll have passports from a first world, developed country where you enjoy VISA free visits to many countries around the world.

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http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/01_26.html

Japanese embassy in China packed w. travel agents

Travel agencies in China have lined up to take advantage of relaxed conditions for visas to individual Chinese tourists, beginning on Thursday.

The Japanese embassy in Beijing was packed with travel agent representatives arranging visas for Chinese travelers.

Over 90 agency employees with visa applications for their customers visited the embassy on the first day the deregulation took effect.

Visa requests will now be accepted at all 7 Japanese diplomatic missions in China, including Beijing and Shanghai. The number of travel agents allowed to handle visa applications was increased from 48 to 290.

Tourist visas had been issued only to tour groups from China and wealthier Chinese. The new terms widen access to middle-income earners, with an annual income of at least 9,600 dollars.

A travel agent representative told NHK it's good that citizens other than the rich can now enjoy individual trips to Japan.

2010/07/01 18:29(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

[Repatriate]

If you're only making 9600 dollars a year what the hell would you be doing going to Japan??

[globetrotter]

9600 USD per year is 66000 CNY or 5500 per month. Many in big cities earn this easily.

You have to realize that 9600 per year in China does not buy you the same lifestyle it would in the USA, namely one of deprivation and impoverishment.

It is much less expensive to live in Asia with no debt loads, cash only purchases and apartments for $15 a month and food for $2 a day. Someone who earns 5500 a month can easily save 90%. Living on $500 a month in the RP, or 3000 CNY, is doable but a tight stretch. $800 a month is a good, but not great, life. That's what 5500 CNY is.

You who live in the 1st World and who have never traveled or lived anywhere else don't know the MASSIVE regulatory, financial, legal, administrative and debt burdens that citizens of the 1st W live under. You have enormous overhead for the 'privilege' of living where you do. Think Pareto 80/20. 20% of the last increase of your standard of living comes from 80% of your income. 64% of your income goes to get that last 4% of COLA increase.

What if you could live somewhere for 36% of what you spend and have 96% of your current standard of living? That's what I am describing. So what if your electricity goes out twice a month, but you spend $200 a month to live? What does that get you in Los Angeles -- it won't pay your mobile bill!