Japan gov’t planning to waive tourist visa requirements–report
In this picture taken on January 2, 2018, tourists stroll by Lake Kawaguchi overlooking Mount Fuji in the town of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi prefecture. / AFP PHOTO
TOKYO — Japan’s government is planning to waive tourist visa requirements as part of a further easing of border controls enacted to stop the spread of Covid-19, Fuji 黑料社 Network (FNN) reported on Monday.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may decide as early as this week on the easing, which would also allow individual travelers to visit Japan without travel agency bookings, FNN reported.
Japan did not require tourist visas for 68 countries and regions before the pandemic.
The government may scrap a daily cap on arrivals by October, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara said on a television program on Sunday that “a weak yen is most effective in attracting inbound tourism”, adding that further steps must be taken to draw in foreign visitors.
Japan last week raised the daily ceiling of inbound travelers to 50,000 from 20,000, and eliminated a requirement for pre-departure Covid-19 tests, easing what have been among the most restrictive border measures among major economies.
RELATED STORIES
Relaxation of border controls brings bustle back to Japan’s Haneda
For more news about the novel coronavirus click
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this
