Japan to Revive Tourism Industry... Visa Waivers and Domestic Travel Funding Support

Japan to Accept Individual Tourists from Next Month... Daily Entry Limit Also Lifted
Travel Expense Support for Nationals... Concerns Over Shortage of Staff to Handle Tourists

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Japanese government is set to lift entry restrictions for tourists visiting Japan and launch a large-scale initiative to revitalize the tourism industry. Starting next month, it will exempt visas for tourists visiting Japan and allow individual travel, while also planning to provide domestic travel funds to its own citizens. This move is interpreted as an effort to stimulate the domestic economy by leveraging the tourism boom caused by the weak yen.

On the 15th, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that the Japanese government plans to allow visa-free short-term stays and permit individual travelers to enter the country starting next month. The daily entry limit, which was previously capped at 50,000 people, will also be abolished. The exact timing of the easing will be determined based on domestic and international COVID-19 infection situations, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to announce related policies soon. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported, "Within the government, there is discussion about Prime Minister Kishida, who will visit the United States next week to attend the UN General Assembly, announcing the easing policy during a lecture at the New York Stock Exchange."

In line with welcoming tourists to Japan, the Japanese government also plans to promote domestic travel among its citizens. Nihon Keizai Shimbun revealed that the government is considering a policy to provide travel funds of up to 11,000 yen (approximately 107,000 won) per person per day for citizens traveling domestically using the Shinkansen and airplanes.

The nationwide travel policy was originally scheduled to be implemented in July but was postponed due to the spread of COVID-19. From October, domestic travelers in Japan will be able to enjoy travel fund discounts of 40% within limits of 3,000 yen in coupons usable at restaurants and 8,000 yen in total.

The reason the Japanese government is putting all its efforts into revitalizing tourism is that the domestic economy, depressed by the impact of COVID-19, shows little sign of recovery. Earlier, the government resumed entry for group tourists only from June, but the number of tourists visiting Japan averaged only about 250 per day. Considering that the number of arrivals for tourism purposes reached an average of 77,000 per day in 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak, this is a low figure.

Japanese media pointed out that the tourism industry has stagnated because the government applies stricter quarantine policies compared to G7 countries, such as requiring a negative COVID-19 test certificate obtained within 72 hours before departure or issuing tourist visas. In response, the government raised the daily entry limit to 50,000 at the beginning of the month and allowed group tours without guides, but failed to secure a meaningful number of tourists.

The depreciation of the yen, creating an optimal environment to enjoy a tourism boom, was also a factor behind the easing of entry policies. Nihon Keizai Shimbun stated, "As the yen-dollar exchange rate surpassed the 140 yen level, the government will respond with the goal of recovering tourism demand from autumn," adding, "They are aiming for a consumption stimulation effect through tourists visiting Japan."

Japanese travel agencies are also accelerating preparations for tour products targeting tourists visiting Japan. Japan's largest travel agency, JTB, is preparing to launch travel products departing in January next year for overseas travelers. The travel agency 'Nihon Ryoko' plans to resume Japan cherry blossom tours, which were suspended since 2020. Local governments are actively pushing to resume international flights to Seoul. Ehime Prefecture included related expenses in the additional supplementary budget for September to resume flights from Matsuyama Airport to Incheon.

However, a challenge remains in the shortage of personnel to accommodate the influx of tourists. The number of staff at airports has decreased due to strengthened entry restrictions over the past two years. An executive of a Japanese airline expressed concern to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, saying, "If individual tourists who have been unable to enter since 2019 flood in all at once, I worry whether the ground staff can handle it."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.