Japan might lift requirements for pre-departure COVID-19 tests for travelers and raise daily caps on entrants, local media have reported.
Japan has some of the strictest COVID-19 pandemic border measures among major economies, requiring travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.
The government might soon waive tests for vaccinated passengers, with the change taking effect in a few weeks, Nikkei reported late on Monday.
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A daily cap of inbound travelers might be raised from 20,000 to 50,000 as early as next month, Fuji News Network said yesterday.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno declined to comment on the timing of any border easing, saying it would depend on COVID-19 conditions in Japan and overseas.
“Along with taking every measure to prevent contagion, we’ll also promote economic activity — and with border control measures, we’ll relax them in stages while keeping these two things in balance,” Matsuno told reporters.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the media reports, but deferred comment to the Ministry of Health, which has jurisdiction over border infection controls.
The health ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is recuperating from COVID-19 at his home after testing positive on Sunday, said in May that he wanted to bring Japan’s border measures more in line with those of other G7 nations.
Japan in June opened up to tourists for the first time in two years, although visitors must get visas and stick to guided, package tours.
Domestic and foreign business groups have urged a greater relaxation of Japan’s border controls, saying the measures risk causing the nation to fall behind economically.
European and US business lobbies welcomed the reported easing of measures, while urging Japan to reinstate visa-waiver eligibility for business travelers and tourists.
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