Facial recognition technology will be used at the gates to identify departing travellers. The system will automatically compare faces to passport photos. This technology has been already rolled out for Japanese travellers and after it proved successful, Justice Ministry has decided to use it for all travellers exitting the country regardless nationality.
The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Japan has jumped in the recent years resulting in long lines at immigration counters in arrival and departure lounges and forcing anxiety among travellers. Passport control became the major airport choke point for travellers both leaving and entering the country. The new technology will hopefully free up immigration officers from departure halls to work in crowded arrival halls.
While till now the new automatic face recognition system has been used only for Japanese travellers, it has made a considerable contribution to reduction of waiting time travellers entering the country should spend at immigration. Only in January, about 80 percent of the foreign visitors who arrive at Narita International Airport in greater Tokyo, spent less than 20 minutes to pass through immigration – a 4 percent improvement compared to the previous year.
Japan to Introduce Automated Gates at Airports for All Passengers
News in Asia
Japan is going to solve the issue of too long departure queues at the country's airports by introducing automated gates that will speed up immigration checks considerably. As a result, arrival lines might also be shortened.