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Crowds of foreign tourists began arriving in Japan on Tuesday, October 11, after the government ended the border restrictions it had implemented for more than two years to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
As of this Tuesday, the only requirement related to the Covid-19 pandemic for travelers arriving in Japan will be to be fully vaccinated with a booster or have a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure.
Visa-free travel is back in this country for short-term business and tourist visits from more than 60 countries. Additionally, virtually all visitors from the United States, the rest of Asia, Europe, and South America will not have to quarantine.
The Japanese government had closed its borders to tourists after the start of the health crisis and imposed border controls that were among the strictest and longest in the world.
Last June, the Executive began to allow organized trips in groups, although many chose to wait for individual travel to be enabled before booking their tickets.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hopes the move will invigorate the economy and attract some $34.5 billion in annual tourism spending, an ambitious goal for a sector whose employment plummeted 22 percent between 2019 and 2021, according to official data.
Despite the end of travel restrictions, the Covid-19 protocols in Japan will continue to be stricter than in other countries. For example, tourists are advised to wear face masks indoors and refrain from talking loudly.
The cabinet approved on Friday, October 7, a change in hotel regulations so that they can turn away guests who do not obey infection controls when outbreaks occur.
About 32 million tourists visited Japan in 2019, before the health crisis. Its return is welcome for good reason: many will have more purchasing power because the value of the Japanese yen has fallen in recent months against the US dollar and is at its lowest level in 24 years.
With Reuters and AP
