TOKYO, Sept. 12 (BNA) – The Japanese government plans to waive tourist visa requirements from some countries as part of further easing border controls enacted to stem the spread of COVID-19, Fuji News Network reported Monday.
FNN reports that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may decide as early as this week on the easing, which will also allow individual travelers to visit Japan without travel agency reservations. Japan did not require tourist visas for 68 countries and regions before the pandemic.
The Nikkei reported on Sunday that the government may scrap a daily cap on arrivals by October.
“A weak yen is the most effective in attracting inbound tourism,” Deputy Chief Minister Seiji Kihara said on a TV show on Sunday, adding that more steps should be taken to attract foreign visitors.
According to Reuters, Japan last week raised the daily limit for incoming travelers to 50,000 from 20,000, and removed a requirement for pre-departure COVID tests, easing what were among the most restrictive border measures among major economies.