However, while the relaxing of visa requirements is intended to attract more foreign ski instructors, the Japanese government also hopes that the plans will prevent foreign tourists from working illegally as skiing instructors when visiting Japan.
According to the Kyodo news agency – a non-profit cooperative news agency based in Minato, Tokyo – Japan’s Justice Ministry is also considering granting some type of resident status to foreign ski instructors. In addition Japan intends to offer the highest-level qualification issued by the Switzerland-based International Ski Instructors Association, which has a membership of 10,700 worldwide.