Japan’s government has recently announced a number of new policies designed to ease restrictions on the country’s tourism industry. These include a higher daily limit for international visitors and the elimination of arrival tests. In addition, the government plans to expand its list of quasi-emergencies to 18 prefectures and create more job opportunities.
Increased daily limit for international visitors
As the number of international visitors in Japan continues to increase, the government has decided to ease its immigration restrictions. As of June 10, groups of tourists from 98 countries were welcomed into the country. Since then, the government has continued to ease restrictions, and starting on Sept. 7, travelers from lower-risk countries will no longer need to submit to Covid testing upon arrival.
However, the new rules for entering Japan are not quite that easy. First, those who travel from outside of Japan must take three COVID-19 vaccinations. They must also undergo a PCR test prior to travel and agree to follow COVID protocols. Additionally, they must wear a face mask in confined spaces. In addition, travelers must book their travel package through a registered travel agent in Japan to ensure they meet all the necessary requirements.
Another change affects foreign nationals, who may not be able to enter the country. For now, it is only possible to return to Japan as a foreign national for a limited period of time. The new rules do not affect those who already have a visa to stay in the country.
Elimination of arrival testing
The government of Japan is considering eliminating the requirement for pre-arrival COVID-19 testing. Current regulations require travelers to obtain a negative test result 72 hours before departure. However, some countries have curtailed their testing capabilities, making it difficult to obtain the necessary documents. The elimination of arrival testing in Japan is expected to make things easier for international travelers.
The government plans to implement the new policy by October 2022. The new measures are expected to ease the travel restrictions and increase the number of visitors allowed into the country each day. Currently, there is a 50,000-per-day cap on arrivals. This limit may be reduced to 40,000 visitors daily.
Japan is one of the most restrictive countries in the world when it comes to border control. The government has been accused of vilifying foreigners and over-protecting its borders. The elimination of arrival testing is the first step in easing these restrictions.
Expansion of quasi-emergencies in 18 prefectures
The Japanese government has approved an expansion of COVID-19 quasi-emergency measures that will be in place in 18 more prefectures starting from Thursday, March 6. The expansion also covers the metropolitan areas of Tokyo and Osaka. The measures were imposed as a response to an outbreak of the deadly Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They include a restriction on the sale of alcohol in restaurants and a limit on the number of customers in enclosed areas.
The government can’t lock down residents, but the prefectural governors can ask restaurants to restrict the amount of alcohol they serve. The number of patients with moderate to severe symptoms is increasing rapidly, and hospitals are running out of beds. The government needs to extend the quasi-emergency measures so that hospitals aren’t overloaded with patients, according to the governor of Tamaki Prefecture. Otherwise, the infection rates will spread to young people and the local medical system won’t be able to cope.
As a result of the recent outbreak of coronavirus, the number of new cases of the infection is dropping each day, but the hospital occupancy rates are high and hospital beds are at their maximum capacity. As a result, the government has declared a quasi-emergency in 18 prefectures, according to the New York Times.
Job losses from COVID-19 crisis
Japan’s government has revealed that it intends to loosen its immigration policy. It plans to implement the changes by October 2022. Currently, the daily arrival limit is set at 50,000. As a result, there is concern that the country could experience a double-dip recession. This is a result of job losses, increased consumption tax, and weaker yen, all of which have impacted the economy. In addition, the Bank of Japan has increased interest rates, putting Japan in a difficult position.
The Japan National Tourism Organization has set a target of 60 million international visitors by 2030. The country has also set a goal of recovering to the international travel levels of 2019 by 2024. If the ban is lifted, the country will return to the previous international travel levels.