Japan plans to accept small-scale inbound tourism in May

As for Japan’s latest immigration policy, they originally planned to allow tourists to enter the country in June. But just today, in order to allow foreign tourists to enter Japan, local travel agencies will start a small number of inbound tours in May. See below for details.

According to Japanese TV Asahi, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on the 17th that in order to allow foreign tourists to re-enter Japan, local travel agencies will start a small number of inbound tours in May.

The report stated that this kind of acceptance is limited to countries with low risk of infection expansion and people who have been vaccinated three times, and the itinerary is managed by the travel company. The current setting scope includes Thailand, Singapore and other countries.

After the spread of the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, the Japanese government stopped allowing tourists to enter Japan. Currently, business people and international students are the main entry targets, and tourist entry restrictions are still maintained. In the future, depending on the epidemic situation, restrictions on the entry of tourist groups may be gradually relaxed.

Tourism has always been the main pillar of Japan's economy, but since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic in 2020, Japan initially adopted strict border controls and overseas tourists were not allowed to enter.

Now that epidemic prevention and control regulations have been slightly relaxed, Japan allows students and some business travelers to enter. However, despite calls from industry insiders to restart tourism and take advantage of the yen's 20-year low exchange rate to attract tourists, individual tourists are still banned from entering.

JNTO said on Tuesday that starting later this month, a limited number of small tour groups will be allowed to enter Japanese territory as a pilot to obtain relevant information that will provide information for the wider tourism recovery in the future. refer to.

The Japan Tourism Organization added that tourists allowed to participate in this "test" are tourists from the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore who have received three doses of the new coronavirus vaccine. The Japan Tourism Bureau will make strict plans with travel agencies and be accompanied by tour guides.

“This collaboration will allow us to confirm the malleability of COVID-19 prevention measures, clarify emergency responses to COVID-19 infections during travel, and develop guidelines for operators of travel agencies and hotels,” the tourism board said .