Japan To Ease COVID Restrictions, Allow Limited Foreign Tourism

Japan To Ease COVID Restrictions, , Allow Limited Foreign Tourism.

In June, Japan will allow foreign tourists to visit the country for the first time since tight pandemic travel restrictions were imposed two years ago.

The Associated Press reports that Japan's prime minister said that only visitors who sign up for package tours will be allowed to enter at first.

The Associated Press reports that Japan's prime minister said that only visitors who sign up for package tours will be allowed to enter at first.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Japan will allow tours with fixed schedules and guides beginning on June 10.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Japan will allow tours with fixed schedules and guides beginning on June 10.

This week, Japan will begin hosting small, experimental package tours from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.

AP reports that the experiment will only involve about 50 people who were granted special visas.

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Japan currently allows up to 10,000 Japanese citizens, foreign students and some business travelers to enter the country each day.

Japan currently allows up to 10,000 Japanese citizens, foreign students and some business travelers to enter the country each day.

On June 1, that cap will double to 20,000 a day, which will include tourists with package tours.

Makoto Shimoaraiso, a Cabinet official in charge of pandemic measures, said that it will be some time before individual tourism is permitted.

In 2020, foreign tourist arrivals in Japan were cut by over 90%, nearly wiping out the $31 billion tourism market prior to the pandemic.

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Japan's prime minister said that the government plans to remain in line with other Group of Seven industrialized nations and slowly ease pandemic-related restrictions.

Japan's prime minister said that the government plans to remain in line with other Group of Seven industrialized nations and slowly ease pandemic-related restrictions