Japan’s June 10 reopening: tourism sector braces for surge of travel-starved visitors eager to ‘experience, not see’ the country

Name: Japan to welcome small tour groups after scrapping travel curbs on international visitors
Uploaded: 2022-06-09T00:30:27.000Z
Duration: 2 min 13 s
Description: Japan to welcome small tour groups after scrapping travel curbs on international visitors

As borders further reopen to travellers, tourism firms are reporting a surge in bookings and more inquiries about cycling, hiking, eating, skiing trips

Much of the demand is from US, Europe, Australia, as strict coronavirus rules in China and Hong Kong seem to be skewering Asia’s interest

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Visitors walk on Mount Daisen in western Japan’s Tottori Prefecture on June 5. The nation is gradually reopening its borders and many tourists are keen to book trips. Photo: Kyodo

Julian Ryall

Published: 8:30am, 9 Jun 2022Updated: 9:13am, 9 Jun 2022

Japan’s travel industry is eagerly anticipating the fuller reopening of borders to foreign tourists on Friday, with operators reporting surging interest in destinations, activities and sights across the country over the coming months.

The latest step in Japan’s cautious easing of restrictions on travellers will allow groups on package tours to enter the country, although they are under strict instructions to always wear protective masks in public, travel with a local guide, follow coronavirus prevention measures and have comprehensive health insurance.

Despite those requirements, the first knots of foreign tourists have been spotted clearing immigration at Japanese airports.

After effectively banning visitors from overseas as the pandemic spread around the globe, the Japanese government doubled the limit on people coming into the country to 20,000 individuals on June 1. Now, it is anticipated that as long as the early stages of the “return to normal” go as planned, that ceiling can soon be raised again and, ultimately, abolished altogether.

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Japan to welcome small tour groups after scrapping travel curbs on international visitors

And while the industry is delighted at the gradual reopening of Japan to the outside world and is reporting an extremely high level of interest from travellers and a steady flow of bookings, particularly at the luxury end of the market, there is a hint of concern below the surface that another sudden spike in coronavirus cases or the impact of a widely predicted economic downturn may yet play havoc with operators’ ambitions.