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| Above, Narita Airport departure counter. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
If the Japanese government thought that their latest actions on foreign tourism would be a big boost to tourism, they were sadly mistaken.
The Asahi Shimbun reported (some snippets):
Entry restrictions on foreign tourists were further relaxed on Sept. 7, but a sudden surge in such visitors is not expected because some unpopular border rules still apply.
The government now allows small groups of tourists to arrive in Japan without a guide, but individuals must arrange their visits through a travel agency.
Moreover, all tourists still must obtain visas before entering Japan.
Restrictions abroad have also reduced the number of tourists to Japan.
But a source at another travel agency said a surge in trips to Japan will come only after the visa requirement is lifted.
The limited number of direct flights to and from Japan has led to one-way tickets costing about 300,000 yen ($2,080). But Wang said many inquiries were still being made about possible trips to Japan.
The rule banning individual tourists from arranging their own trips also remains a huge barrier.
To read the full article, go here.
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