Japan reopens to visitors on June 10, but Hong Kong travellers may have to delay departure, with visa applications up in the air
- All visitors must apply for a visa to enter Japan, but time needed for processing remains uncertain
- Visitors from Hong Kong not required to be vaccinated against Covid-19, undergo testing or quarantine upon arrival in the country
The much-awaited resumption of leisure travel to Japan is set for Friday, but most tourists booked through travel agents in Hong Kong will not take off until at least a week later due to uncertainty over visa applications.
Package tours organised by companies such as Wing On and WWPKG would not depart until June 24, while EGL Tours had pushed back its departure date from June 11 to June 15, the Post learned on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Japan tourism authorities revealed guidelines that visitors must abide by while in the country. Among the updated measures was a requirement by the Japanese government for tourists to wear masks and purchase insurance to cover any medical expenses.
If their clients become infected with Covid-19, tour agencies must send them to medical institutions in the country.
02:13
Japan to welcome small tour groups after scrapping travel curbs on international visitors
All tourists must apply for a visa to enter Japan starting from Friday, but it remains uncertain how long applications take to process, and how many people are allowed in a tour group.