Japan will reopen to overseas tourists and end its two-year pandemic closure. The government has decided to allow tourists 98 countries June the 10th. However, the opening will be tightly controlled. Initially, only package tour groups will be allowed . A daily cap of 20,000 arrivals has been set. Authorities will monitor their movements to track any spread Covid-19. All visitors have to test negative Covid before they travel Japan. Some may have to undergo an additional test and quarantine three days. Japan has among the strictest border controls any country. Its self-imposed isolation has played a part its relatively low number coronavirus cases.
Japan's change stance is welcome news its tourism industry, which has suffered heavily the past two years. The number overseas visitors has fallen over 99 per cent pre-pandemic days. Japan saw a record 32 million foreign visitors 2019. It was track to achieve its goal of 40 million in 2020. However, Covid caused the number inbound tourists to plummet to just 250,000 in 2021. The president the Japanese airline ANA said: "I hope the border controls are loosened the same pace as in other G7 countries to revitalize the local economy." Japan's loosening its entry restrictions is timely. Last week, the World Economic Forum ranked Japan highest its list of global travel destinations.
