Japan to resume tourism in June; only packaged tour for now
2 years, 6 months ago

Japan to resume tourism in June; only packaged tour for now

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan will open its borders to foreign tourists in June for the first time since imposing tight pandemic travel restrictions about two years ago, but only for package tours for now, the prime minister said Thursday. Beginning June 10, Japan will allow the entry of people on tours with fixed schedules and guides, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. After facing criticism that its strict border controls were xenophobic, Japan began easing its restrictions earlier this year and currently allows entry of up to 10,000 people a day, including Japanese citizens, foreign students and some business travelers. Japan will double the cap to 20,000 a day from June 1, which will also include package tour participants, said Makoto Shimoaraiso, a Cabinet official in charge of pandemic measures.

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History of this topic

Air travel emerges from turbulence of pandemic
4 months, 1 week ago

Air travel emerges from turbulence of pandemic

China Daily  

A passenger from Fuzhou, Fujian province poses for a photo with greeters at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, in the Malaysian state of Sabah, on June 27, when Xiamen Airlines resumed its Fuzhou-Kota Kinabalu route. The strong outbound travel demand has prompted more Chinese airlines to launch new direct flights and increase the frequencies of current flights to Japanese cities, …

Summer peak season reaffirms surge in air travel industry's recovery
4 months, 1 week ago

Summer peak season reaffirms surge in air travel industry's recovery

China Daily  

A passenger from Fuzhou, Fujian province poses for a photo with greeters at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, in the Malaysian state of Sabah, on June 27, when Xiamen Airlines resumed its Fuzhou-Kota Kinabalu route. The strong outbound travel demand has prompted more Chinese airlines to launch new direct flights and increase the frequencies of current flights to Japanese cities, …

Japan eases entry for travellers with new preclearance system, faster immigration processing as tourist wave hits record
5 months ago

Japan eases entry for travellers with new preclearance system, faster immigration processing as tourist wave hits record

Hindustan Times  

Foreign visitors arriving in Japan may get to breeze through immigration soon as the country looks for new ways to amplify a tourism boom that is boosting its economy. Japan welcomed a million more foreign visitors in the first half of 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels, logging a new record of 17.78 million, the national tourism organisation said on July …

Japan tourism sees monthly tourist numbers return to pre-Covid level
1 year, 1 month ago

Japan tourism sees monthly tourist numbers return to pre-Covid level

Hindustan Times  

More tourists came to Japan in October than in the same month in 2019 before the pandemic, a development that will offer support for the economy after it shrank over the summer. Japan tourism sees monthly tourist numbers return to pre-Covid level The number of visitors was about 2.52 million, compared with roughly 2.50 million in October 2019, Japan’s National …

Japan to lift COVID-19 border controls before holiday week
1 year, 7 months ago

Japan to lift COVID-19 border controls before holiday week

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan will lift most of its coronavirus border controls, including a requirement that entrants show proof of three vaccinations or a pre-departure negative test, beginning Saturday as the country’s Golden Week holiday season begins and a large influx of foreign tourists is expected. All entrants with symptoms will still be required to take COVID-19 tests after arriving until …

Improving virus policy to reap tourists
1 year, 7 months ago

Improving virus policy to reap tourists

China Daily  

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning has announced that starting April 29 all passengers bound for China need to undergo just a rapid antigen test instead of a nucleic acid test for the novel coronavirus 48 hours before boarding a flight, and the airlines will no longer check the pre-boarding test certificate. Since the implementation of Class B management …

Improving virus policy to reap tourists
1 year, 7 months ago

Improving virus policy to reap tourists

China Daily  

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning has announced that starting April 29 all passengers bound for China need to undergo just a rapid antigen test instead of a nucleic acid test for the novel coronavirus 48 hours before boarding a flight, and the airlines will no longer check the pre-boarding test certificate. Since the implementation of Class B management …

Improving virus policy to reap tourists
1 year, 7 months ago

Improving virus policy to reap tourists

China Daily  

Domestic travel bookings for the five-day holiday that starts on April 29 this year have seen a surge of over 700 percent from the same holiday last year, the latest data from online travel agency Trip.com Group showed. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning has announced that starting April 29 all passengers bound for China need to undergo just …

Improving virus policy to reap tourists
1 year, 7 months ago

Improving virus policy to reap tourists

China Daily  

Domestic travel bookings for the five-day holiday that starts on April 29 this year have seen a surge of over 700 percent from the same holiday last year, the latest data from online travel agency Trip.com Group showed. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning has announced that starting April 29 all passengers bound for China need to undergo just …

Japan ends Covid-19 travel curbs to bring shoppers, tourists back
1 year, 9 months ago

Japan ends Covid-19 travel curbs to bring shoppers, tourists back

Hindustan Times  

Japan's service-sector sentiment rebounded in February for the first time in four months, a government survey showed on Wednesday, a sign that the removal of Covid-19 curbs is giving a much-needed boost to the country's sluggish consumption. Japan's service mood rebounds as end to Covid-19 curbs bring shoppers, tourists back The outcome offers some relief for policymakers fretting that rising …

China seeks to minimize COVID-19 risk during travel rush
1 year, 11 months ago

China seeks to minimize COVID-19 risk during travel rush

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China is seeking to minimize the possibility of a major new COVID-19 outbreak during this month’s Lunar New Year travel rush following the end of most pandemic containment measures. People using public transport are also urged to wear masks and pay special attention to their health and personal hygiene, Vice Minister Xu Chengguang told reporters at a briefing. …

Japan to require COVID-19 tests for all visitors from China
1 year, 11 months ago

Japan to require COVID-19 tests for all visitors from China

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Tuesday that Japan will tighten border controls for COVID-19 by requiring tests for all visitors from China starting Friday as a temporary emergency measure against the surging infections there. “We have decided to take a temporary special measure to respond to the situation.” Despite widespread outbreaks that are straining medical resources and …

Companies welcome end to China quarantines for visitors
1 year, 11 months ago

Companies welcome end to China quarantines for visitors

LA Times  

China has ended COVID-19 curbs that confined millions of people to their homes, but hospitals have been flooded with patients. Companies welcomed China’s decision to end quarantines for travelers from abroad as an important step to revive slumping business activity while Japan on Tuesday announced restrictions on visitors from the country as infections surge. He said ending the quarantine “clears …

As COVID-hit China opens up to travel, others secure their doors
1 year, 11 months ago

As COVID-hit China opens up to travel, others secure their doors

Al Jazeera  

Japan joined India Tuesday in imposing restrictions on Chinese visitors as Beijing relaxed its norms for travellers. Japan will tighten border controls for COVID-19 by requiring tests for all visitors from China starting Friday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced, even as Beijing said it would scrap mandatory quarantine for overseas arrivals. The developments come days after the World Health Organization …

Foreign visitors flock to Japan after tourism reopening
2 years, 1 month ago

Foreign visitors flock to Japan after tourism reopening

CNN  

The number of foreign visitors to Japan rose to nearly 500,000 in October, the first month it fully reopened to overseas visitors after more than two years of Covid restrictions, more than doubling the volume from September. The number of foreign visitors, for both tourism and business, rose to 498,600 in October, more than double September’s 206,500 and surging a …

Japan’s wave of tourists after borders reopened sends hotels, taxis hunting for staff
2 years, 1 month ago

Japan’s wave of tourists after borders reopened sends hotels, taxis hunting for staff

Hindustan Times  

Japan’s transport and hospitality industries are struggling to find enough staff to keep up with a rebound in demand, with the number of visitors more than doubling after borders reopened a month ago. Now, with the borders fully open to vaccinated travellers since Oct. 11, the island nation is poised for a tourism boom, thanks to strong demand and a …

Japan tourism in recovery mode after months-long Covid-19 travel curbs
2 years, 2 months ago

Japan tourism in recovery mode after months-long Covid-19 travel curbs

Hindustan Times  

Kyoto is an old city in Japan that is famous for sightseeing and is visited by a number of tourists throughout the year. Recently, a 'Tourism Expo Japan 2022' was organized in the city, where travel agencies and local tourism organizations put up their stalls to tell the audiences about their services. Hiroyuki Takahashi, Chairperson of the Japan Association of …

Tourists flock to Japan after pandemic border restrictions are lifted
2 years, 2 months ago

Tourists flock to Japan after pandemic border restrictions are lifted

LA Times  

Eager to admire colorful foliage, eat sushi and go shopping, droves of tourists from abroad began arriving in Japan on Tuesday with the end of pandemic border restrictions that had been in place for more than two years. That of course includes hopefully meeting new people, eating the food that I’ve missed, like good tonkatsu, being in nature at that …

Japan reopens to tourists with shuttered souvenir shops, hotel staff shortage
2 years, 2 months ago

Japan reopens to tourists with shuttered souvenir shops, hotel staff shortage

Hindustan Times  

As Japan throws open its doors to visitors this week after more than two years of pandemic isolation, hopes for a tourism boom face tough headwinds amid shuttered shops and a shortage of hospitality workers. Japan reopens to tourists with shuttered souvenir shops, hotel staff shortage Arata Sawa is among those eager for the return of foreign tourists, who previously …

Japan to loosen travel restrictions imposed during pandemic
2 years, 3 months ago

Japan to loosen travel restrictions imposed during pandemic

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Japan’s strict border restrictions will be loosened next month, the prime minister announced Thursday, allowing tourists to easily enter for the first time since the start of the pandemic. In a news conference at the foot of Central Park in New York, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said independent tourists would again be welcomed as of Oct. 11, …

Japan mulls scraping daily overseas arrival cap by October
2 years, 3 months ago

Japan mulls scraping daily overseas arrival cap by October

Hindustan Times  

Japan is making arrangements to end its daily limit on arrivals from overseas by October, and will consider removing other remaining barriers to foreign tourism at the same time, the Nikkei reported without saying where it obtained the information. Japan mulls scraping daily overseas arrival cap by October The removal of the 50,000 people-per-day cap alone won’t return Japan’s border …

Japan to ease COVID-19 border controls from Sept. 7
2 years, 4 months ago

Japan to ease COVID-19 border controls from Sept. 7

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday announced plans to ease border controls from early September by eliminating requirements for pre-departure COVID-19 tests for travelers who have received at least three vaccine doses, and he will also consider increasing daily entry caps as soon as next month. “We plan to gradually ease border controls to allow entry procedures …

Japan to ease pandemic-related border controls from Sept. 7
2 years, 4 months ago

Japan to ease pandemic-related border controls from Sept. 7

LA Times  

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans Wednesday to ease border controls from early September by eliminating requirements for pre-departure coronavirus tests for arriving travelers who have received at least three COVID-19 vaccine doses, and to consider increasing daily entry caps as soon as next month. Kishida, after holding virtual meetings with government ministers and medical advisors earlier Wednesday, told …

Japan eases foreign tourism ban, allows guided package tours
2 years, 6 months ago

Japan eases foreign tourism ban, allows guided package tours

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists and began accepting visa applications, but only for those on guided package tours who are willing to follow mask-wearing and other antivirus measures as the country cautiously tries to balance business and infection worries. The Japan Tourism Agency says tours are being accepted from 98 countries and regions, including …

Japan eases foreign tourism ban, allows guided package tours
2 years, 6 months ago

Japan eases foreign tourism ban, allows guided package tours

LA Times  

Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists and began accepting visa applications, but only for those on guided package tours who are willing to follow mask-wearing and other anti-COVID measures. As the country cautiously tries to balance business demands and infection concerns, the Japan Tourism Agency said tourist groups were being accepted from 98 countries and regions, including …

Japan, wary of foreign 'bad manners', cautiously eases borders to aid tourism
2 years, 6 months ago

Japan, wary of foreign 'bad manners', cautiously eases borders to aid tourism

Hindustan Times  

Japan's easing of a two-year ban on foreign tourists seeks to balance the enormous economic importance of tourism with concerns that travellers would trigger a Covid outbreak, insiders say. Japan, wary of foreign 'bad manners', cautiously eases borders to aid tourism Under the decision, Japan will allow in a limited number of foreign tourists on package tours starting June 10. …

Japan’s struggling tourism sector despairs at lack of COVID exit
2 years, 8 months ago

Japan’s struggling tourism sector despairs at lack of COVID exit

Al Jazeera  

Japan is increasingly an outlier in a region that is lifting border restrictions and reviving quarantine-free travel. “One of the commonly agreed perspectives by hoteliers is that, pending there is no major negative event related to the pandemic, it will take about two years before the industry thrives again thanks to the international visitations.” Anne Kyle, CEO and founder of …

Holidaymakers choose short trips amid outbreak of virus
2 years, 8 months ago

Holidaymakers choose short trips amid outbreak of virus

China Daily  

Visitors take photos in an oilseed rape field of blooms in the rural area of Baofeng county, Henan province, on March 30. The surge in local tours presents opportunities for the homestay and hospitality industry, which can tackle the industry's lackluster performance due to the effects of the pandemic, business insiders said. The report on tourism operations of 2021 and …

Report reveals trends in world tourism
2 years, 9 months ago

Report reveals trends in world tourism

China Daily  

The World Tourism Cities Federation and the Tourism Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences released its Report on World Tourism Economy Trends in Beijing on March 2. In 2021, world tourism showed a significant recovery, driven by the continuous loosening of fiscal and monetary policies in major economies, accelerated global vaccine production and rising vaccination rates. According …

Report reveals trends in world tourism
2 years, 9 months ago

Report reveals trends in world tourism

China Daily  

The World Tourism Cities Federation and the Tourism Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences released its Report on World Tourism Economy Trends in Beijing on March 2. In 2021, world tourism showed a significant recovery, driven by the continuous loosening of fiscal and monetary policies in major economies, accelerated global vaccine production and rising vaccination rates. According …

Japan to bar all foreign visitors over Omicron variant
3 years ago

Japan to bar all foreign visitors over Omicron variant

Al Jazeera  

Prime minister says the new rule, which goes beyond initial restrictions on arrivals from southern Africa, will take effect on Tuesday. Japan says it will bar the entry of all foreign visitors from around the world, just weeks after a softening of strict entry rules, following the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. “We will ban the …

Japan keeps tourism freeze despite plunge in virus cases
3 years, 1 month ago

Japan keeps tourism freeze despite plunge in virus cases

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Filled with pink and fuzzy things and cuddly bears, 6%DOKIDOKI, a tiny store in the heart of Tokyo’s Harajuku district, is bursting with “kawaii,” the Japanese for “cuteness.” What it doesn’t have enough of, as in zero, are foreign tourists. They use, ‘Kawaii!,’ in the same way they say, ‘Wonderful,’ ‘Awesome,’ or ‘Lovely,’ ” said manager Yui Yoshida, …

Japan to expand COVID curbs amid ‘unprecedented’ surge in cases
3 years, 4 months ago

Japan to expand COVID curbs amid ‘unprecedented’ surge in cases

Al Jazeera  

Latest move will place more than 70 percent of Japan’s population under some sort of COVID-19 restrictions. “New infections are rising at an unprecedently fast pace,” Economic Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a panel of experts reviewing the proposal for expanded restrictions. “Not just in the national capital region, but starting with the Kansai region and northern Kanto region, the number …

Japan finds new Covid-19 strain, while immigration centre reports infections
3 years, 10 months ago

Japan finds new Covid-19 strain, while immigration centre reports infections

Hindustan Times  

Japan confirmed a new variant of Covid-19, and an infection cluster emerged at a Tokyo immigration facility, presenting new challenges as the country tries to overcome a third wave of the pandemic. FILE PHOTO: Pedestrians wearing protective masks amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, walk on a street in Tokyo, Japan, February 2, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo The new variant has …

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