Coronavirus: Japan to give people discounts of US$190 a day to boost domestic tourism

The Go To Travel Campaign, to begin around July, will provide local travellers with subsidies for hotels, restaurants, transport and attractions

There will also be funding for travel firms, but some are unsure if they will benefit or if the incentives are enough to entice travellers amid the pandemic

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Tourists at Osaka Castle in Japan. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 9:00am, 2 Jun 2020Updated: 9:30am, 2 Jun 2020

Japan’s battered tourism industry has welcomed a government support package to keep firms afloat through the coronavirus crisis, even as there are concerns over whether the funds will benefit small businesses or if people will travel at all.

Details of the Go To Travel Campaign are still being worked out, but the government said it would include subsidies of up to 20,000 yen (US$190) per day – provided through discounts or vouchers for hotels, restaurants, transport and attractions – for people taking domestic trips.

The lack of clarity in announcement, made last month, led to some media outlets erroneously reporting the campaign would include foreign travellers, which officials disputed last week.

“The Go To Travel Campaign under consideration by the Japanese government is to stimulate domestic travel demand within Japan after the Covid-19 pandemic and only covers a portion of domestic travel expenses,” the Japan Tourism Agency said on Twitter on May 27.

Japan hopes the Go To Travel Campaign will spur domestic travel. EPA-EFE

To receive the subsidies, travellers must use domestic travel agencies or stay at local hotels and ryokan, Japanese inns. The campaign is likely to begin in July, the government said.