Travel firms scammed Japan government in subsidised travel scheme
Japanese travel agency group H.I.S. Co said two subsidiaries scammed the government through the Go To Travel subsidised tourism campaign.
It admitted Japan Holiday Travel Co and Miki Tourist Co fraudulently over-reported the number of hotel stays it claimed were booked as part of the campaign.
Together they received 683 million yen worth of subsidies for hotel stays that didn’t exist.
H.I.S. said it was discovered during an internal audit.
Miki Tourist conspired with hotel operator JHAT Co but Japan Holiday Travel did not take an active role in processing bogus bookings.
H.I.S. CEO Hideo Sawada said Miki Tourist’s president will be fired and H.I.S. will repay the money back to the government.
The Go To Travel subsidised tourism campaign covered 50% of travel costs from July 2020 to December 2020 when it was halted due to rising Covid cases.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive