Japanese govt treads carefully on accepting foreign tourists
AS part of its preparations to reopen Japan’s borders to tourist groups as early as in June, the government has decided to conduct a trial project this month that will let in foreign sightseers.
The resumption of group tourism for the first time in about two years will boost the travel industry, which has been battered by the novel coronavirus pandemic, but it could backfire if infections rise as a result. The government will have to chart a careful course to enable the smooth revival of international tourism.
All Nippon Airways Co president Shinichi Inoue issued a statement Tuesday praising the government’s decision on the trial project.
“Demand for travel to Japan is rising thanks to the weak yen. We’re eager for incoming tourism to resume, and I sincerely welcome this move as a first step,” he said.
Masahiko Koyama, president of Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide Inc, also has high expectations.
“Guests from overseas stay at hotels longer and spend more money (than domestic guests),” Koyama said.
The few foreign nationals who can currently enter Japan include those on business trips or coming to study. Entry purely for sightseeing is not permitted.
The tourism industry has been eagerly awaiting the return of overseas tourists, but there seems to be a certain amount of anxiety among the general public.
The number of tourists under the trial project will be limited, and their travel destinations restricted to places where the prefectural government has decided to allow the visit.
Tourists taking part in the project will be asked to carefully monitor their health through such steps as taking their temperature every day.
The tourism ministry was planning to launch the project late last year but was forced to postpone because of the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The government is expected to announce the easing of border control measures based on careful monitoring of the daily number of newly confirmed cases.
Hiroyuki Takahashi, the chairperson of the Japan Association of Travel Agents and JTB Corp’s chairperson of the board, met with the tourism minister on May 12 and told him that Japan could end up being isolated in the field of tourism.
In contrast, more and more Japanese people have started travelling overseas again.
It makes for an unbalanced picture with incoming tourists barred from entering Japan. And yet, concern regarding the virus persists among government officials. — Japan News