Domestic tourism campaign gets off to bumpy start

e “Go To Travel” tourism promotion campaign got o to an uneasy start July 22, as a nationwide increase in coronavirus infections and a government reversal on the campaign threw wouldbe travelers and the domestic tourism industry into confusion.

When the government announced that the costs of trips to and from Tokyo would not be covered by the program due to a spike in cases in Tokyo, it initially said it had no plans to provide funds to compensate cancellation fees. However, one day before the start of the campaign, the government changed course and said it would shoulder fees for canceling travel bookings.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe commented on the signi cance of the campaign on July 22: “Our policy of cautiously resuming economic activities remains unchanged. We will continue to make sure that we prevent infection and prevent serious illness.”

e government plans to include ¥1.3 trillion for the program in the budget, to subsidize the cost of up to 35% of domestic trip expenses and provide shopping vouchers for up to a 15% discount during trips.

e 35% discount on travel costs began on the day, and discount vouchers will be distributed from September.

With the tourism industry severely a ected by the new coronavirus, expectations were high ahead of the four-day holiday starting July 23.

An automatic thermographic measurement system has been installed at the main station in the beachside town of Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture, to measure the temperature of disembarking visitors.

Meanwhile, a record-high 366 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Tokyo on July 23, marking the first time the daily gure has exceeded 300 in the capital.

“Infections are spreading across generations and areas,” Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said at a press conference on the day, reiterating calls for Tokyo residents to avoid going out over the four-day holiday to prevent the spread of infections.

The Yomiuri Shimbun A member of staff checks the temperatures of passengers arriving at Shimoda Station in Shizuoka Prefecture on July 23, using a recently installed thermographic scanner.