It has been more than six months since Japan closed its borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Like many other countries, the country's tourism industry has been hit hard. But the closures were made to ensure that infection numbers remain low and the healthcare system is not overwhelmed and collapsed.
However, the Tokyo Olympics are fast approaching, with the date set for July 23, 2021. The Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, John Coates, has firmly stated that the Olympics will still take place “with or without Covid-19.”
Although this is not an official announcement from the government, the Japanese government has started the process of opening its borders to international tourists, not only to prepare for the biggest competition on the planet but also because the whole world is having better management policies with this pandemic.
The Tokyo Olympics will begin on July 23, 2021
The reopening process will be a multi-step process. Initially, the government will conduct a comprehensive investigation into how and when to do so. Countermeasures will be in place in January 2021 and the ban on foreign tourists will be lifted in April 2021. However, this process will be carried out carefully, on a trial basis.
The planned safety measures will effectively monitor three key stages of the traveler’s journey: arrival, stay, and departure. A health management map and dedicated fever prevention centers will also be established to avoid overloading existing health facilities.
However, the reopening comes with some conditions. Visitors must have a negative coronavirus test certificate before arriving in Japan. Although they do not need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, they must report their health status through a health management app for the first two weeks.
The measures will be maintained throughout and after the Olympics as the Japanese government aims to revive international tourism.
International tourists will soon have the opportunity to travel to Japan again.
Japan recently opened its borders to foreign visitors with long-term residence permits. This includes, for the most part, employees of companies and organizations as well as international students, so lifting the international travel ban is the logical next step.
Compared to many other countries, Japan is managing the pandemic very well. As of now, the country has 86,000 cases of Covid-19 with more than 1,600 deaths, or 683 cases per million people, compared to 4,563 cases per million in the United States.
