Japan
Japan finally decides to end restrictions on foreign tourists
Tokyo/IBNS: Japan will open its doors to foreign tourists, after more than two years of closed borders owing to the Covid pandemic.
Starting Oct 11, tourists will be able to visit the country without a visa, and will no longer need to go through a travel agency.
A cap on daily arrivals will also be lifted.
Japan's announcement comes at around the same time Taiwan and Hong Kong also relaxed entry rules for visitors, the BBC said.
Taiwan will drop quarantine requirements for international arrivals by mid-October, while Hong Kong on Friday said it would move from hotel quarantine to stay-at-home requirements from Sept 26.
For Japan, the anticipated influx of travellers will be a welcome boost to government and local businesses, amid the Japanese yen's slide to its slowest point against the US dollar in six months.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, "Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US."
The country has allowed visitors since June, but they had to be part of tours.
Kishida also announced a domestic travel incentive scheme that will give discounts on travel, theme park prices, sporting events and concerts. Japanese residents and citizens will be eligible for an 11,000 yen subsidy.
Similar programmes have been introduced in other countries opting for re-openings to encourage locals to spend and stimulate the economy. However, like elsewhere, the rise in the cost of living has been a dominant concern for locals, the BBC report added.
Japan, the world's third-largest economy, was one of the last Asian powerhouses to keep its borders closed due to Covid health concerns.
Its death rate is the lowest among the world's wealthiest nations, while the country's vaccination rate is among the highest.
The island nation saw nearly 32 million foreigners visit in 2019.
(With UNI Inputs)
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