Japan’s prime minister hints at border reopening
Rob GillJapan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida has signalled that the country is preparing to finally reopen to international visitors from June.
During a speech in London on Thursday (5 May), Kishida said: “We have now eased border control measures significantly, with the next easing taking place in June, when Japan will introduce a smoother entry process similar to that of other G7 members.”
Specialist tour operator InsideJapan Tours said it “applauded” Kishida’s “clear hints” about the imminent reopening of Japan’s border.
Simon King, co-founder of InsideJapan’s parent company Inside Travel Group, said: “This is something we have waited over two years for and something that can’t come soon enough.
“Although details and dates are yet to be confirmed, it would seem that Japan is set to open for tourism again in June. We have thousands of customers that cannot wait to travel, and enquiries are verging on pre-pandemic levels. This is the news we have all been waiting for.”
Sister band InsideAsia has also just launched the first in a series of digital brochures for post-pandemic travel, which agents can use to help their clients to book trips to destinations as they reopen to tourists.
The first digital-only brochure focuses on trips to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, featuring four itineraries to each country with highlights and experiences selected by the InsideAsia team.
Trade marketing manager Matt Spiller said: “As restrictions in Asia ease, people are looking to travel beyond Europe for something different. Asia offers something completely different in terms of culture, landscapes, people, food and adventure.
“Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are three countries that all offer something special. This brochure offers ideas and inspiration in the form of workable trips, experiences and insight that we hope will aid our agent partners as well as their clients”.
InsideAsia also highlights its commitment to sustainable travel by showcasing its work with local suppliers and the carbon offsetting programme, which is helping the development of a renewable energy project in rural Vietnam.
Vietnam is now open to international travellers with Covid tests required before departure, while Cambodia is open for travel without any testing for vaccinated travellers and Laos is expected to drop remaining Covid requirements soon.
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