Japan opens up to foreign tourists after two years

After being closed to tourists for two years, Japan is opening its borders to visitors from 98 countries and regions.

It is the most significant moment so far in the country's slow relaxation of its Covid-19 entry restrictions.

A requirement to visit the country as part of a tour group will remain.

Foreign visitors were banned from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games because of Japan's tough virus control regimes.

The government recently raised the limit on daily foreign arrivals to 20,000 from the previous limit of 18,000.

International students have been allowed in since March.

Tour groups will be allowed to enter the country from 10 June. The UK is included in the nearly 100 countries and regions that will be divided into three risk categories, red, yellow and blue.

The tourism industry in Japan has been hard hit by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

In 2020, tourist arrivals in Japan fell more than 90 percent.

Travel agencies were happy with the news.

Despite it being off limits for nearly two years, we still see a lot of interest in visiting Japan. Zina Bencheikh, managing director of Intrepid Travel, said that there will be a rush in bookings when borders are open.

The cost of Japan's closing was noted by other tour operators.

James Greenfield, managing director of Japan Journeys, said that the Japanese government is cautious.

They want the first tourists to enter on guided tours and we are ready to do whatever is necessary to keep our customers happy and to get some income back after two years without any.