Would-be Hong Kong travellers flock to agents to find out about packages after Japan scraps travel curbs on tourists from roughly 100 countries
- No tests, vaccines or quarantine for visitors from ‘blue’ countries
- High prices and city’s travel restrictions crush some tourists’ dreams
Travel agencies have seen a surge in inquiries about tours to Japan after the foreign ministry announced that tourists from Hong Kong could enter the country quarantine-free on a package tour basis from June 10.
Since the announcement, travel agencies have received dozens of inquiries about their tour packages to the country, but most industry players said they were awaiting guidelines from the Japanese government before they could roll out concrete plans.
Japan announced on Thursday that it would scrap travel restrictions for travellers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China and roughly 100 countries and regions, starting with groups on guided tours.
Incoming travellers from these places, on what Japan called a blue list, were not required to be vaccinated, undergo testing or quarantine against Covid-19 upon arrival.
While unvaccinated travellers can enter Japan quarantine-free, people coming to Hong Kong must be inoculated with two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine to get into the city and need to undergo testing and seven days of compulsory hotel quarantine upon arrival.
Hong Kong, meanwhile, confirmed 250 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, including 29 imported cases. One more virus-related death was reported.