**Japan set to waive some visa requirements in October to boost tourism- Nikkei** Reuters | Updated: 15-09-2022 03:35 IST | Created: 15-09-2022 03:35 IST
Japan is expected to waive visa requirements for certain tourists and remove a limit on daily arrivals in October as it aims to benefit from a rebound in global tourism, Nikkei reported on Thursday.
Following the change, Japan will not require visas for short-term travelers from the United States and certain other countries, and will scrap the daily entry cap of 50,000 people, the media outlet said. *Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to announce the changes in the coming days, the report said.*
With the yen languishing near a 24-year low against the dollar, owing to a hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve, the Japanese government could benefit from capitalising on the increased buying power of tourists by easing travel requirements, the report added. Japan last week raised the daily ceiling of inbound travellers to 50,000 from 20,000, and eliminated a requirement for pre-departure COVID tests, easing what have been among the most restrictive border measures among major economies.
Before the pandemic, Japan did not require tourist visas for 68 countries and regions.
After 2.5 years of waiting we’re so close, finally 😭😭😭
(:
The requirement for flights included in the packaged trips without a guide was a huge mistake as many companies do not have that sort of airline booking capacity. And from the perspective of travelers, it made it even less attractive to come here that way. This long reopening has been a shitshow but that last policy revision on the 7th was a horrible step that someone high up should be resigning for.
Regardless, the real reason for this quick shift in policy is probably the plunging yen exchange rate. Huge pressure from domestic companies to capitalize on this by letting in tourists asap. As always, money talks.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this announced later today or tomorrow morning. “In the coming days” often means they’re already arranging the chairs in the press room for an afternoon announcement.
Ok so does this include removing the requirement for package tours?
6 comments
**Japan set to waive some visa requirements in October to boost tourism- Nikkei**
Reuters | Updated: 15-09-2022 03:35 IST | Created: 15-09-2022 03:35 IST
Japan is expected to waive visa requirements for certain tourists and remove a limit on daily arrivals in October as it aims to benefit from a rebound in global tourism, Nikkei reported on Thursday.
Following the change, Japan will not require visas for short-term travelers from the United States and certain other countries, and will scrap the daily entry cap of 50,000 people, the media outlet said. *Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to announce the changes in the coming days, the report said.*
With the yen languishing near a 24-year low against the dollar, owing to a hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve, the Japanese government could benefit from capitalising on the increased buying power of tourists by easing travel requirements, the report added. Japan last week raised the daily ceiling of inbound travellers to 50,000 from 20,000, and eliminated a requirement for pre-departure COVID tests, easing what have been among the most restrictive border measures among major economies.
Before the pandemic, Japan did not require tourist visas for 68 countries and regions.
After 2.5 years of waiting we’re so close, finally 😭😭😭
(:
The requirement for flights included in the packaged trips without a guide was a huge mistake as many companies do not have that sort of airline booking capacity. And from the perspective of travelers, it made it even less attractive to come here that way. This long reopening has been a shitshow but that last policy revision on the 7th was a horrible step that someone high up should be resigning for.
Regardless, the real reason for this quick shift in policy is probably the plunging yen exchange rate. Huge pressure from domestic companies to capitalize on this by letting in tourists asap. As always, money talks.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this announced later today or tomorrow morning. “In the coming days” often means they’re already arranging the chairs in the press room for an afternoon announcement.
Ok so does this include removing the requirement for package tours?
What an absolute shame.