By GO TAKAHASHI/ Staff Writer
September 3, 2022 at 17:29 JST
Staff from the Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau welcome tourists from South Korea arriving at Kansai International Airport. (Satoru Ogawa)
The Japan Tourism Agency released new guidelines Sept. 2 to domestic travel agencies about unescorted package tours they sell to foreign tourists.
Japan will throw open its doors to all such visitors, no matter which country they are from, starting Sept. 7.
The guidelines call on travel agencies to set up arrangements that allow them to remain in contact with foreign visitors when dealing with contingencies such as testing COVID-19 positive after they are in Japan.
Travel agencies will be obliged to inform potential customers of the requirement and obtain their consent before selling package tours.
The method of contact can be anything from mobile phones, e-mail to social media.
Upon arrival in Japan, the travel agency must contact the foreign visitors and provide instructions on infection-prevention measures, such as wearing face masks. There will be no restrictions on where tourists can visit.
Tour packages include roundtrip airfare to and from Japan as well as hotel accommodation during their stay.
The government first began allowing entry to foreign tourists arriving on escorted tours from June 10 from nations with low levels of COVID-19 cases, and has gradually relaxed the restrictions. But tourists will still require a visa to enter Japan.
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