Japan to reopen to mass tourism in October

(CNN) — Japan, one of the world’s last major holdouts during the pandemic, is lifting its Covid-19 restrictions and opening the doors to mass tourism.

Beloved for its unique blend of vibrant urban culture and natural beauty, the country is lifting its strict regulations on foreign tourists, according to a tweet from Japan’s Digital Affairs Minister Taro Kono on Thursday.

“Finally, Japan will reopen the border,” the tweet said. “Visa exemption is back, no daily limit and free individual visits.”

The new policies will start from October 11.

“We will lift the limit on the number of people entering Japan, lift the ban on individual travel and lift the ban on visa-free travel,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a news conference in New York City on Thursday. will.” United Nations General Assembly meeting

Explaining the lifting of restrictions, Kishida said, “On the same day, we plan to launch a campaign to offer domestic travel discounts and event discounts to Japanese residents, and we hope that many citizens will take advantage of this.” The offer will benefit from supporting the hotel, travel and leisure sectors which have taken a huge hit during the pandemic.”

The move marks a major shift in policy after nearly 2 1/2 years of strict Covid-19 restrictions on who can enter the country and under what circumstances.

These restrictions include the number of visitors allowed per day, strict testing rules for the coronavirus and requirements to join tour groups for visits.