TOKYO, Japan -- JCB, an international credit card brand, and Hertz Asia Pacific in Japan have forged a partnership to promote Japanese traveling abroad.

The two companies announced they are focusing on strategies to revitalize global tourism. The joint campaign is scheduled for Sept. 22 through April of 2004.

JCB said the campaign's goal is to build demand among JCB's more than 45 million Japanese cardmembers by adding benefits for overseas use. When cardmembers make a Hertz reservation through JCB Travel and then buy two airline tickets or spend 70,000 yen or more with the JCB card, they receive a coupon good for a one-day free Hertz car rental in the U.S. These customers are also automatically entered in a lottery for a variety of prizes.

In addition, holders of JCB's "The Class" card receive free membership in the Hertz #1 Club Gold.

"This is our first partnership of this type with a credit card company, and we have strong expectations of increased sales due to JCB's extremely large number of cardmembers as well as Gold Card and other preferred customers," said Hiroyuki Kobayashi, marketing department manager for Hertz Asia Pacific Ltd.