Japan to let in foreign tourists, but only if masked and accompanied by chaperone

Foreign tourists visiting Japan will be required to wear masks and be chaperoned by local guides as the country prepares to open up to international travellers after two years of Covid-19 border restrictions.

The government said this week that people who have waited a long time for the chance to visit Japan will have to take out private medical insurance in case they get sick.

When a limited number of people are allowed to enter Japan from Friday, tourism will look very different.

The Japan Tourism Agency said that only visitors on package tours will be allowed in.

It won't be a problem for people from other Asian countries where mask-wearing has been accepted during the Pandemic, but it will be a problem for people from countries that no longer require masks.

At each stage of the tour, tour guides should remind tour participants of the need to wear and remove masks. In situations where people are talking in close proximity, masks should be worn.

Most people in Japan still wear face coverings even though the government has relaxed its guidelines. Visitors will be expected to cover up when they leave the house.

According to the Japan Times, the tourism minister said that it is important that places where tourists will be visiting are willing to accept them.

If travel agencies and others follow the guidelines, inbound tourism will return to normal.

The US, Britain, Australia, China, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand are some of the countries where entry will be restricted initially.

They can expect to be chaperoned throughout their trip, while travel agencies have been asked to come up with itineraries that are less crowded. Visitors who test positive for Covid-19 will be monitored until they return to their homes.

A group of 50 people were tested for Covid-19 during a test tour in Japan last month.

The rules could deter some people from planning a trip to Japan in the near future, according to a travel agent from Australia who took part in one of the trial tours.

It's a hassle to wear a mask 24 hours a day. When clients have more flexibility, the cost of a guide may be less of a deterrent.

The prime minister of Japan wants the country's borders to be the same as those of other G7 countries.

Visitors will be included in a 20,000 cap on daily arrivals for the time being, but it could be some time before mass tourism comes back to Japan.

The government of Japan had set a goal of attracting 60 million tourists by the year 2030.

With the news agency.