As had already been announced, in June the Japanese government will take the first, timid, steps towards reopening to tourism. Citizens from United States, Singapore, Australia And Thailand they will be able to start traveling to Japan again, provided they have already received the third dose of the vaccine.
Unfortunately, the vaccine is not the only requirement. Since this is a test, at the end of which, if everything goes as planned, it will be possible to proceed with a global reopening, the trips will be strictly organized. Small groups of people will travel along pre-established routes, always under the watchful eye of a guide and without being able to take initiatives that are not already included in the package offered by the travel agency. By doing so, the competent authorities will always know where people are, managing to intervene promptly to stem the COVID threat if the experiment proves to be unsuccessful.
The prime minister Kishida it had already intended to kick off tests last December, but the spread of the omicron variant forced the government to postpone. At the moment, the maximum limit of daily admissions to the country, between workers and students, is 10,000, but in the next few days it should be extended to 20,000.
Already in April, numerous representatives of the private sector had loudly called for the reopening of borders, pointing out how damaging the current situation is for the country’s economy (you can find the news at this address). However, the most heartfelt requests come from smaller companies: Yoko Kikuchi, 77, an umbrella seller in the Asakusa district, on Nakamise Street, hopes that the return of tourists will restore to the district the vitality that has always distinguished it and that, in following the emergence of omicron last November, it seems to have dissipated. Similarly, Keisuke Ishikawa, a bamboo carver who has seen a decline in business, especially on weekdays, continues hopefully to ask for the reopening.
As lovers of Japan, we can only sympathize with these small businesses, hoping that the government test will be successful and that the country will soon open its borders to us European citizens as well.
Source: Japan Times
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